Belfast's Grand Opera House celebrates a milestone anniversary, the iconic theatre has seen almost as much drama off its stage than on it.

For the magnificent theatre, which is celebrating its 120th anniversary, has all the elements of a classic storyline.

If the Opera House was a cat, it would have used up its nine lives long ago after all the twists and turns since it threw open its doors to thousands of theatre goers the night before Christmas Eve in 1895, after it was lovingly and skilfully designed by the archetypal architect Frank Matcham.

Stars? It's had a galaxy of them from Laurel and Hardy to Gracie Fields, from the Krankies to Van Morrison, from Kenneth Branagh to Derek Jacobi and from Pavarotti to George Formby. You name them and they've been there.