Lyric to Close in Summer for Major Refurbishment

---

Victorian auditorium to be fully renovated for the first time in 40 years

The Victorian main house auditorium of the Lyric Hammersmith is to have its first full refurbishment in almost 40 years.

Last renovated in 1979, the 550 seat auditorium will undergo ceiling repairs, redecoration and seats and carpets will be replaced.

The Lyric’s smaller studio space will also be modernised as part of the refurbishment, with work on both spaces aiming to maintain safety and improve accessibility and audience comfort, as well as preserve the heritage of the building.

This means the main theatre will temporarily close on 23 June following a production of Fatherland, the main theatre for three and a half months for the work to be completed. It will then reopen on October 5 with Lyric and Home in Manchester co-production Othellomacbeth.

The studio will close in mid-June and reopen in September.

The redevelopment is the next phase of capital investment in the Lyric following a major redevelopment in 2013-2015, which saw an extension added to the west of the main building and the foyer spaces refurbished.

Funding for the latest project, which is estimated to cost £780,000, include Foyle Foundation, SUEZ Communities Trust, and the Wolfson Foundation and Arts Council England, which last year announced it was awarding £360,000 to the Lyric for the refurbishment.

The Lyric is also launching a name a seat campaign to raise funds, offering patrons the opportunity to have their name on a seat for £1,000 in the main house or £500 in the studio.

Sian Alexander, executive director at the Lyric, said, "The Lyric plays a key role in the cultural and educational landscape of west London and beyond.

"The refurbishment of our performance spaces is a strategic investment in the Lyric’s infrastructure looking after the building’s extraordinary heritage, giving our audiences a first-class experience and bringing our technical capabilities into the 21st century. It is part of our long-term plan to renew the Lyric for future generations."

March 30, 2018