 In October 2018, as part of the theatre's 50th anniversary on the Stranmillis site, that theme of being "a shared place, a crossroads between communities" was marked at a symposium and over a weekend of celebratory events with the Irish Times noting the Lyric was a cultural bridge in a divided city.A Stormont investigation found that there were serious failing in the selection of a preferred bidder for the new Lyric Theatre building.The report stated that the way in which the contract was awarded was significantly flawed and failed to adhere to principles of good practice.