‘The Lyric…it’s simply a theatre that thinks for itself.’ A. A. Milne 1929
Our Vision
A local theatre with national impact: The Lyric – 130 years young.
Our Strategic Vision defines the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre’s ambitions through to 2026; it forms the foundations of all strategic work and planning across the organisation. Our vision is informed by the delivery requirements of our major funders – Arts Council England and the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham – alongside our creative and organisational priorities that will ensure the future success of the Lyric.
Strategic Strands:
Our Work & Identity
Positioning the Lyric in the UK theatre landscape
Our Business Development & Sustainability
Developing and delivering against the Lyric’s business model
Our Audience & Community
Engaging and growing the Lyric’s audience and wider community
Our People & Culture
Supporting staff, young people and artists to excel
Our Work
The Lyric is a producing theatre with the ability to be genuinely eclectic; we programme new plays alongside classics, musicals, and comedy. Re-lensed familiar plays are a core strand, shifting the dial on who owns ‘classics’. We are bold, innovative and welcoming in our programme. We reach specific communities by speaking directly to them. We are never tokenistic; our brand will continue to be synonymous with a genuine progressiveness.
Our work with young people is sector leading. We have a breadth and depth of engagement within West London that has evolved creatively. Our ambitious flagship programme Springboard has made a bold intervention into how theatre addresses the lack of affordable drama training and subsequent impact on our industry. We develop response projects to main house shows, which allow young people to engage directly with the work on the stage and evolve their own creativity. START and REWIND, our long-standing projects, provide creative outlets for West London’s most vulnerable young people.
We create work that is truly for our audience with five guiding principles:
- Always delivering bold theatre that’s from the heart.
- Platforming excellent talent and curating interesting creative collaborations.
- Celebrating the value of the Lyric’s Frank Matcham theatre.
- Creating work which speaks to the world we live in now.
- Creatively inspiring young people from West London through our work on stage.
“The Lyric is a key part of the local community and is an inspiration to West London. Essential West End Theatrical experiences in a local environment.” West London Audience Member
Funding
Our annual turnover is approximately £6.5 million. The Lyric Hammersmith Theatre receives funding from the Arts Council England as a National Portfolio Organisation and the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Additional income is earned through box office sales and other revenue streams which include a significant contribution from our commercial business and fundraising.
Governance, Staffing and Finances
The Lyric is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee. We have a talented and dedicated team of around 50 permanent staff, and employ numerous freelance artists, practitioners and casual staff.
The Lyric has two trading subsidiaries: Lyric Hammersmith Enterprises encompasses the Lyric’s day-to-day trading operation including catering, hires and fundraising events. Lyric Hammersmith Worldwide is the Lyric’s production company and is contracted to deliver all theatre productions on behalf of the main charity. This is the vehicle through which the Lyric receives Theatre Production Tax Relief. All profits from both subsidiaries are covenanted to the parent charity.
The Lyric’s Board has ultimate responsibility for the strategic direction, development and governance of the organisation and Trustees offer guidance and expertise to the Chief Executive/Artistic Director and Executive Director, to whom day-to-day management of the organisation is delegated. Trustees must be positive and passionate advocates for the theatre and its core mission and must ensure that its affairs as a registered charity and company limited by guarantee are conducted with probity.
The Board comprises Professional and Community members who normally serve a maximum two terms of three years each. The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham also appoints up to four Councillors to the Lyric Board on an annual basis. We hold four Board meetings each year, including the Lyric’s Annual General Meeting in December.
Lyric Values
Work with integrity and respect
We support each other with kindness, openness and integrity. Together we celebrate our achievements and work collaboratively through our challenges.
Every day we learn and grow
We continue to ask questions, seek answers and share our learning with each other for the benefit of the Lyric.
Be ambitious and action-focused
We believe in excellence; we have a can do attitude, go the extra mile and ensure our ideas become actions.
Serve our West London community
We are here for the people of West London, every decision we make and action we take should benefit our community.