The Lyric Young Company will establish an ensemble of 15 actors through auditions who will work and train two nights a week over nine months with international director Anne-Louise Sarks (Seventeen Lyric Hammersmith) Nicholai La Barrie (Director of Young People, Lyric Hammersmith), Sean Holmes (Artistic Director, Lyric Hammersmith) and the Lyric’s Artistic Associates.
The Lyric Young Company will create a brand new show for a two week run at the Lyric in June 2018 and perform a work in progress in March 2018 as part of the Lyric’s Evolution Festival, which cele-brates and platforms the work of younger artists. The Lyric Young Company will also provide oppor-tunities for aspiring creatives including designers and directors to work alongside leading theatre prac-titioners in realising company shows.
Lyric Young Company members will be part of the Lyric for a year and will receive mentoring, careers advice and pastoral support from the Lyric team. They will also be invited to Lyric press nights and other Lyric events and receive free Young Lyric membership for a year entitling them to access cheap tickets, additional classes and activities and a wide range of other benefits.
Sean Holmes, Artistic Director said, “I am thrilled to announce the launch of this all new Lyric Young Company. Led by visionary Australian director Anne-Louise Sarks, young Londoners from all back-grounds will create work of vision, relevance and surprise, building on the unique energy of the Lyric. Making world class theatre whilst empowering the creative instincts of young people.”
Anne-Louise Sarks, newly appointed Artistic Director of the Lyric Young Company said, “This is such a rare opportunity – full of possibility and freedom. I’m thrilled to be working with the Lyric to create an ensemble of the most talented young artists in London. It’s a unique chance to build a company of the most exciting actors and theatre makers and to start from scratch to build a language together and make new work specifically for the amazing spaces at the Lyric. All of our most celebrated artists have begun in collaboration with an ensemble. This is the next generation of talent and we are making a new work specifically for them. It will be a thing to behold. I can’t wait to start.”
