The Lyric Hammersmith first opened in 1895, designed by prolific theatre architect Frank Matcham as an intimate opera house. Originally built on another site, it was threatened with demolition in 1966 to make way for a new shopping complex. After public outcry, it was decided that the theatre would be dismantled and rebuilt on its current site, along with a new contemporary black-box studio. It is one of two major theatres in London to share a name; the other is the Lyric Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue, which hosts West End plays and musicals.
In 1979 the new venue was opened by the Queen. In 2004, the theatre underwent major renovations at the hands of architect Rick Mather, creating a new ticket booth, café and rehearsal spaces. The Lyric Hammersmith has since been expanded in 2012 and 2015, with new rooms added, including the multi-facilitated Reuben Foundation Wing. Currently, the main auditorium has a capacity of 550.
One of the UK’s leading producing theatres, the Lyric Hammersmith welcomes audiences in their thousands throughout the year and hosts work by playwrights such as Harold Pinter and Simon Stephens. Much like Islington’s Almeida Theatre, Lyric Hammersmith is highly-regarded for creating smash-hit productions that regularly transfer to the West End. Notable productions include Bugsy Malone, Shopping and F***ing, Ghost Stories and the Olivier Award-winning Blasted.
