The God Box, A Daughter’s Story

Solo show based on New York Times bestseller comes to Lyric Theatre, Belfast this week to benefit Corrymeela and Northern Ireland Hospice

“A beautiful play with a heart full of love behind it.”
— British Theatre Guide FIVE STARS

Like many people who lose a loved one, author Mary Lou Quinlan, an over-achieving and devoted daughter, struggled to come to terms with the death of her mother—until she found an unexpected gift from the woman she missed so deeply.

In her New York Times bestselling book “The God Box, Sharing my mother’s gift of faith, love and letting go”, Quinlan shares the story of her remarkable discovery of her mother’s “God Boxes” filled with hundreds of private petitions on torn pages and Post-its written by the very hand that had slipped away.The book inspired her solo show, “The God Box, A Daughter’s Story.” Performed by Quinlan and co-written and directed by Martha Wollner of NYC’s LAByrinth Theater Company, this theatrical piece follows Quinlan on an emotional roller-coaster, ricocheting from grief to laughter to the greatest human challenge: learning to let go.

Quinlan, a charismatic storyteller, has performed the show for five years in more than 70 venues around the US, as well as Off-Broadway and for 24 performances at the 2014 Edinburgh Festival Fringe where it earned five stars. In June 2015, Quinlan brought the show to Ireland to benefit the Irish Hospice Foundation with performances at the Pavilion in Dun Laoghaire and the Lime Tree in Limerick. Since its debut, The God Box Project (book and play) has raised nearly $350,000 US for cancer, hospice and education charities.

Two performances are scheduled at The Lyric Theatre, Belfast this week: June 20th show benefits Corrymeela; June 21st benefits Northern Ireland Hospice. Tickets are £15 and available through the Lyric box office 028 9038 1081 and on line at www.lyrictheatre.co.uk

The performances in Northern Ireland will be followed by a nine city tour in the Republic in October, with proceeds benefiting local hospices through the Irish Hospice Foundation.