Lyric Hammersmith announces 2018 season

News | Lyric Hammersmith | 25 Oct 2017

The Lyric Hammersmith has announced its 2018 season.

It opens in February with the London transfer of a new adaptation of Derek Jarman's cult film Jubilee (pictured), starring Toyah Willcox. 

The 1978 film, which features a time-travelling Elizabeth I, is being updated to modern times by writer-director Chris Goode in a co-production with the Royal Exchange. 

The cast of Jubilee also includes Travis Alabanza, Harold Finley, Craig Hamilton, Gareth Kieran-Jones, Tom Ross-Williams, Sophie Stone and Temi Wilkey.

From 15 March artistic director Sean Holmes will helm a revival of Sean O'Casey's classic play The Plough and the Stars, set amid the tumult of the Easter Rising.

In April there will be a return of Philip Venebles' opera of Sarah Kane's 4:48 Psychosis, which premiered at the Lyric last year. And Hofesh Shechter's Clowns/New Creation will receive its UK premiere in May. 

Fatherland, created by Frantic Assembly's Scott Graham with Karl Hyde and Simon Stephens, will run from 25 May to 23 June. The production, inspired by conversations with fathers and sons, premiered at the Manchester International Festival and will run as part of LIFT.

Rounding off the season from 5 October to 3 November is OthelloMacbeth, a "condensed staging" of Shakespeare's great tragedies directed by Jude Christian and Sean Holmes.

Holmes, who has been the Lyric's artistic director since 2009, described it as a "vibrant and provocative season".

He added: "Punk rebellion, Irish revolt, ground-breaking opera, electrifying dance, Shakespeare doubled and Frantic Assembly at their best make for a rich and compelling Lyric season: one that promotes emerging talent and celebrates the artistic benefits of collaboration in all its forms."

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