Lyric Hammersmith Theatre announces season including ”God of Carnage” and ”Faith Healer”

The Lyric Hammersmith Theatre in west London has unveiled its 2023 and 2024 season plans.

Rachel O’Riordan, artistic director and CEO of Lyric Hammersmith Theatre said: “This new season is interrogative and imaginative, with plays by bold and exceptional writers – Brian Friel, Tanika Gupta, Yasmina Reza, Lemn Sissay and Vikki Stone. These plays are an interrogation of identity, truth and the power of storytelling. How reliable are the stories history tells us, or those that we tell each other and ourselves?

“Theatre generates open debate and conversation; it provokes, challenges and can also create a unique sense of unity in an audience. It reflects our stories back to us, and asks us to understand those stories that are far from our own experience. This is live theatre’s most special power – the creation of new understanding, empathy and compassion in a shared space. Come and be thrilled, entertained, challenged and charmed in our beautiful theatre. We can’t wait for you to join us for this unflinchingly and entertaining season of new stories.”

The season will open with a new revival of Yasmina Reza’s critically-acclaimed God of Carnage, running from 1 to 30 September and following two sets of parents who have a téte-a-téte after their children get into a fight. Nicholai La Barrie directs the new staging.

The season also features the London transfer of Tanika Gupta’s The Empress directed by Pooja Ghai, announced in the RSC’s autumn plans earlier this morning. It runs from 4 to 28 October.

As previously revealed, the venue will host the rantic Assembly, Theatre Royal Plymouth, Curve, MAST Mayflower Studios and Lyric Hammersmith co-production of Metamorphosis, adapted from Kafka by Len Sissay. It plays from 1 February to 2 March 2024.

From 14 March to 13 April, O’Riordan will direct a new production of Brian Friel’s Faith Healer, about a travelling man who promises miracle cures for the sick.

Vikki Stone will return to pen the venue’s pantomime Cinderella, while autumn 2023 will also see the return of a multidisciplinary festival celebrating Black joy, talent, culture, and creativity.