16-578: The Lyric Theatre , also known as the Lyric Hammersmith , is a nonprofit theatre on Lyric Square, off King Street , Hammersmith , London. The Lyric Theatre was originally a music hall established in 1888 on Bradmore Grove, Hammersmith. Success as an entertainment venue led it to be rebuilt and enlarged on the same site twice, firstly in 1890 and then in 1895 by the English theatrical architect Frank Matcham . The 1895 reopening, as The New Lyric Opera House,
32-521: A continuous source of Polish history and culture and for potential future generations in exile . It replaced the venues of a number of distinct military, veterans and social associations and meeting places that had been scattered mainly across the Royal Borough of Kensington in the aftermath of World War II . As Poles who had escaped the occupation of their country began to move westwards in London from
48-584: A water main in King Street burst, flooding the street. 70 people were led to safety by the London Fire Brigade . Several of the pubs along King Street are listed buildings , including The Salutation and The Hop Poles . On the north side, there is the Livat Hammersmith shopping centre (formerly known as Kings Mall) with over 40 shops and eating places. Also on the north side, at Nos. 238–246,
64-654: Is Amy Belson. The Lyric has recently gone through a major redevelopment project, with new facilities for young people and the local community completed in 2015, designed by Rick Mather Architects and was nominated in the 'community benefit' and 'tourism and leisure' categories at the RICS Awards 2016, London. In 2011, the Lyric won the Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre for Sean Holmes ' production of Sarah Kane 's Blasted . In September 2018, it
80-634: Is a Polish cultural centre in west London , England. It was founded in 1967 and funded by public subscription, on the initiative of Polish engineer Roman Wajda , at 238–246 King Street , Hammersmith . The rationale was that during the Cold War , the Polish community in the United Kingdom was politically opposed to the Polish Communist authorities in its native country and could not otherwise avail itself of
96-512: Is an independent Polish bookshop on the premises. Several Polish organizations are based at the centre, including: The original membership fee of £10 was raised in 2008 by the new President, Ewa Brzeska, it now stands at £60. On 26 June 2016 the front entrance of the centre was vandalised with graffiti. It was treated as a potential hate crime by the Metropolitan Police . It was seen by some as an expression of anti-Polish sentiment in
112-554: Is the Polish Social and Cultural Association , popularly known as the "POSK", which has been the centre of the Polish community in London since the 1960s. Further to the west is the main south entrance to Ravenscourt Park , which is a memorial gate to Sir William Bull , a former MP for Hammersmith. On the south side of King Street is Hammersmith Town Hall . Originally set further back from
128-455: The Main House , a 565-seat 19th-century auditorium maintaining the original design which hosts its main productions; and the 120-seat Studio , which houses smaller productions by up-and-coming companies. The Lyric also presents frequent Lyric Children and Lyric Music performances as well as Sunday Night Comedy . Its current artistic director is Rachel O'Riordan , and its executive director
144-531: The " bedsitter land" to which they were first confined, Wajda and his committee made precise calculations as to where such a facility would best serve the Polish community of the time. In its proximity is the Polish parish and "garrison church", St Andrew Bobola , in nearby Shepherd's Bush . POSK presents and promotes Polish culture and history to the British public. It houses the Polish Library in London, which
160-804: The descendant of a school founded in the seventeenth century by Edward Latymer who, by his will, dated 1624, bequeathed thirty-five acres of land in Hammersmith, "the profits of which were to be appropriated to clothing six poor men, clothing and educating six poor boys, and distributing in money." Toby Young 's West London Free School in Pallingswick House sits on the corner of King Street and Weltje Road. 51°29′33.94″N 0°13′36.7″W / 51.4927611°N 0.226861°W / 51.4927611; -0.226861 Polish Social and Cultural Association The Polish Social and Cultural Centre ( Polish : Polski Ośrodek Społeczno-Kulturalny ; POSK )
176-559: The eastern end it meets Hammersmith Broadway and continues east as Hammersmith Road where it forms a crossroads with the A219 , the Shepherd's Bush Road running northwards, and the Fulham Palace Road running south. The street is two-way along its western part, and one-way westbound along its eastern part. Eastbound traffic uses Studland Street, Glenthorne Road and Beadon Road. Despite
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#1733085405432192-442: The name, and its proximity to Queen Caroline Street , the street is not named after any monarch of England or otherwise; it is named after John King , Bishop of London , who gave land to the poor of Fulham in 1620. The street is about a mile and a half long, and formerly had several posting-houses, as it was the road to Windsor, which have now become pubs. It has long been the principal street of Hammersmith. On 26 January 2018,
208-454: The street, in the 1970s a huge concrete extension was built facing the street, on the site of a former park, to accommodate offices. In 2013 the go-ahead was given to demolish the 'eyesore' and replace it with a new green space and homes. Also on the south side of King Street is Rivercourt Methodist Church , built in 1875 by Charles Bell . Next door, at No. 237, is Latymer Upper School , a co-educational independent school, founded in 1895 and
224-438: Was accompanied by an opening address by the famous actress Lillie Langtry . In 1966 the theatre was due to be closed and demolished. However, a successful campaign to save it led to the auditorium being dismantled and reinstalled piece by piece within a modern shell on its current site on King Street a short distance from the former Bradmore Grove location. The relocated theatre opened in 1979. It has two main performance areas:
240-760: Was announced that Sean Holmes would be succeeded as artistic director in February 2019 by Rachel O'Riordan . The Lyric's programme is divided into five strands: (Source: the Lyric official website) King Street, Hammersmith King Street, Hammersmith is the main shopping street in Hammersmith , London. It runs west–east, and forms part of the A315 , and is the eastern continuation of Chiswick High Road , where it meets Goldhawk Road (the A402 ), close to Stamford Brook tube station . At
256-422: Was founded in 1942, and an art exhibition space. It puts on film screenings, theatrical productions and musical recitals, including opera. It has a jazz club with regular sessions. The 300 capacity theatre is fully equipped with audio loop and subtitle function. The theatre is available for hire by other community groups when not in use. POSK also houses a Polish cafe - Cafe Maya, a restaurant and Members bar. There
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