Ghost Stories will return to the Lyric Hammersmith as part of its Spring 2019 season, the final set of productions programmed by outgoing Artistic Director Sean Holmes.
After a decade at the helm of the venue, Holmes has programmed one of the biggest hits of his tenure – Ghost Stories later transferred to the West End, internationally, and then to the silver screen – now to return to its original home. Andy Nyman and Jeremy Dyson’s cult phenomenon will terrify theatregoers from 29 March – 11 May 2019.
The season also includes the world premiere of a new play with songs, starring Tyrone Huntley; the 1927 Theatre Company and Kneehigh with critically acclaimed touring productions; and a body of work reflecting the Lyric’s reputation for nurturing the creativity of young people.
Leave To Remain (18 January – 16 February 2019) opens the season, with music by the lead singer of Bloc Party, Kele Okereke. Olivier Award-winner Huntley leads the play as Obi, telling the remarkable story of a young gay couple suddenly faced with an uncertain future. You can listen to a track from the production below.
This is followed by 1927’s The Animals And Children Took To The Streets (19 February – 16 March), a glorious blend of the macabre and spectacular presented through music, animation and storytelling. Like a graphic novel burst into life, the show welcomes audiences to Bayou, a fearsome and loathsome part of the city – can Agnes Eaves find hope in a place bereft of it?
Ghost Stories follows in the theatre where it all began, accompanied by an advisory warning – that the show is unsuitable for anyone under the age of 15 – which audiences would be wise to heed.
Finally, Carl Grose’s Dead Dog In A Suitcase (And Other Love Songs) (21 May – 15 June) is Kneehigh’s trail-blazing tour-de-force, an adaptation of the Beggar’s Opera, in which a cast of actor-musicians shoot, hoot and shimmy their way through a twisted morality tale.
Elsewhere, the Lyric’s Evolution Festival – a four-day festival which showcases young artists in London – and the Lyric Ensemble – a year-long project with a group of young aspiring actors – will return for 2019, along with the Little Lyric season for audiences aged up to 11 years.
Of the season, Holmes said: “Our new spring season is everything I’ve always strived for the Lyric to be – provocative, entertaining and eclectic bringing the best theatre artists to our beautiful Hammersmith home.”
And he signed off with an inspiring message to all would-be directors and creatives:
“From running the building a year, I can say often the biggest risk led to the biggest reward… if you’re curtailing your sense of adventure or creativity, you know in your gut you’re messing up.” Sean Holmes on a decade @LyricHammer. 👏 pic.twitter.com/e8PbMkI9Ns
— Official London Theatre | TKTS (@london_theatre) September 4, 2018
More information on the new season, and tickets, can be found on the venue’s website.