The Lyric Hammersmith aims to produce work that is provoking, entertaining, popular, eclectic, messy, contradictory and diverse. We want to be at the heart of our community as well as being internationally recognised. We want to celebrate the unique vision of the writer as well as the creative power of collaboration. We want to work with the best theatre artists around as well as encourage the next generation. We want to lurch wildly between high art and populism – hopefully achieving both at the same time. Beautiful theatre, cheap tickets and a rooftop garden. Hammersmith and proud.
Sean Holmes Artistic Director
Jessica Hepburn Executive Director
Spring Awakening
Punk Rock
‘A new musical, bursting with ambition and achievement.’
‘One of the best plays of the year.’
Daily Telegraph
Sunday Express
Olivier Awards:
Manchester Evening News Awards:
Winner – Best New Musical
Winner – Best Play
Winner – Best Actor in a Musical
Winner – Best Production
Winner – Best Supporting Performance in a Musical
Winner – Best Supporting Actress
Comedians
Jack and the Beanstalk
‘Impeccably acted.’ Metro
Winner – Best Newcomer
‘Panto at its best.’ Daily Telegraph
Three Sisters
Ghost Stories
‘A thrilling and challenging piece of theatre.’
‘An immaculately crafted evening of entertainment – You’ll have a scream.’
Sunday Times
Time Out
West End transfer
The Lyric is West London’s largest producing theatre. During our hundred year history we have welcomed some of the world’s finest writers, directors and actors to our stages and changed the lives of thousands of young people. Our commitment to artistic excellence and young people is unique within the theatre ecology of the UK. These are some of the things we are most proud of in 2009/10: 125,000 enjoyed over 900 events and performances at the Lyric and on tour Over 6,500 young people from West London and beyond took part in 900 workshops and activities at the Lyric Over three million people watched our Channel 4 documentary TV series Young, Autistic & Stagestruck We worked with over 250 artists and practitioners to create our shows and to deliver our programme of work with young people We were nominated for 24 awards In support of our commitment to providing the chance for everyone to experience live theatre we have distributed 8058 free tickets. This has been through the Arts Council’s A Night Less Ordinary free ticket scheme for people under 26; our Free First Night scheme for people who live or work in Hammersmith & Fulham; and our Christmas scheme offering every year 5 student from the local borough the chance to see our pantomime for free
Sex, Lies & DVDs
LYC
A major sexual health project, inspired by the Lyric’s production of Spring Awakening, which was delivered in partnership with Hammersmith and Fulham Primary Care Trust. The project engaged over 3,000 young people from West London and was nominated for UK Sexual Health Project of the Year.
West London’s largest youth theatre which, for just £7 a year, offers young people the chance to participate in regular activities, attend masterclasses led by industry professionals, see Lyric shows for just £5 and perform on our stages.
Lyric Lounge
START
A monthly event in the Lyric Studio, produced entirely by young emerging artists, showcasing a eclectic array of youth talent including soulful vocalists, up-and-coming bands, theatre, poetry, dance and comedy.
A unique six-week training programme for young West Londoners, aged between 13 and 19, who are not in education, employment or training (NEET). The project re-engages young people with the learning process and has enabled over 90% of participants to gain a level 1 or 2 qualification in literacy and numeracy.
Young, Autistic and Stagestruck
CHILDRENS’ SHOWS and MESSY PLAY
An ambitious project which captured the journey of a group of nine young people with autistic spectrum disorders as they worked together to devise, produce and perform an original piece of theatre. The resulting landmark four-part documentary series was broadcast on Channel 4 in April 2010.
A year-round programme of performances and hands-on activities enabling parents and their children to engage in a range of fun and creative activities.
In 2011 the Lyric starts work on a £13.5million capital project to build the UK’s first ever ‘teaching theatre’ for the performing arts. The new facilities will be linked to the existing building and will create a unique learning environment in the heart of a professional theatre where artists and teachers will collaborate to support, train and inspire young people to achieve their potential. Open seven days a week from 8am in the morning to 11pm at night we will engage up to 200 young people a day and 20,000 each year in a range of formal education and apprenticeship programmes as well as extra curricular activities in drama, dance, music, film, TV, visual arts and technical skills. Our activities will be open to all local young people with a strong emphasis placed on engaging those most in need, working in partnership with schools and agencies including the Youth Offending Service and Social Services.
A huge thank you to all of the following individuals and organisations who supported our work in the financial years 2009/10 and 2010/11.
Contacting Us We’re always happy to hear from you
Michael Alinek Arts Council England BBC Children In Need Big Lottery Fund London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham Capital 95.8’s Help A London Child City Inn Creative & Cultural Skills Cultural Leadership Programme Daisy Trust Roger De Freitas Equity Charitable Trust William and Eva Fox Foundation HammersmithLondon
Lyric Hammersmith Lyric Square King Street London W6 0QL
The Ironmongers’ Company Jakafraik Properties Ltd Learning and Skills Council Lyric Friends McGrath Charitable Trust Paul Hamlyn Foundation Pearson Plc Jack Petchey Achievement Award Janet Robb Sam Griffiths Foundation St Martin’s Property Group NoraLee and Jon Sedmak SHINE Wates Foundation
Telephone 0871 22 117 22 Email enquiries@lyric.co.uk Artistic Director Sean Holmes Executive Director Jessica Hepburn www.lyric.co.uk