BORIS Johnson has pledged a further £1million towards the redevelopment of the Lyric Theatre.
The Mayor of London made the announcement on a tour of the theatre on Wednesday (10)) morning and said: “I am thrilled to be able to support the Lyric at this significant time in its history.
“It is a cultural beacon for west London and a shining example of the continuing success our theatres have in attracting audiences and putting themselves at the heart of the community.”
The theatre announced last year it was to undergo a £16.5m refit, which includes a two-storey extension for new state-of-the-art facilities including performance studios, recording and editing suites, offices and a new cafe and bar area.
The existing 559 capacity theatre will remain untouched but the current building will be re-rendered to make it more sustainable and new signage introduced.
Furthermore, a nine metre-high neon piece of art has been commissioned for the front of the building which will overlook Lyric Square.
Lyric Hammersmith Executive Director Jessica Hepburn said: “It is an honour to welcome the Mayor of London to the Lyric Hammersmith as a major supporter of our capital development project.
“It is especially heartening to see the city continuing in its commitment to improving the lives of young Londoners, opening up new pathways to education and culture all across the city.”
