Lyric's Secret Theatre Extended

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Award from Arts Council allows it to run for an extra year

The Lyric Hammersmith has received an Exceptional Award from Arts Council England to allow its Secret Theatre season to be extended for a further year.

Secret Theatre was originally conceived as a year long project which would take place while the Lyric was undergoing substantial refurbishment.

Its aim was to bring a group of 20 artists together over a period of one year to create work in new ways in whatever space was available within the venue – a secret theatre at the heart of a building site.

Now as the project continues for another year the Secret Theatre Company will continue to make new work while presenting their repertoire of shows both at home in London and around the country, with a tour of ten venues throughout the UK, where the company will take up two week residencies across the country, staging work and offering a surrounding programme of workshops and talks.

The tour will begin in Newcastle's Northern Stage in June.

The Lyric also says there’s been much discussion about its decision not to announce show titles and admits while some have loved the idea others loathed it. Now, as this project moves forward, there will be a much more flexible approach with some titles being revealed and others remaining secret.

Artistic Director Sean Holmes says: " This is an amazing vote of confidence from Arts Council England in a project that is risky, challenging and at times divisive. It is thrilling to imagine bringing this project to different parts of the country and the conversations that may be provoked in the process."

March 19, 2014