David Farr new Artistic Director of Lyric Hammersmith

David Farr new Artistic Director of Lyric Hammersmith

The Board of the Lyric Hammersmith in west London, has today announced the appointment of David Farr as its new Artistic Director. David succeeds Neil Bartlett who steps down at the end of October.

David Farr is currently Joint Artistic Director and co-Chief Executive at the Bristol Old Vic. He and Simon Reade are credited with re-establishing the Bristol Old Vic as one of the country's leading theatres.

Prior to his arrival in Bristol, Farr was Artistic Director of The Gate Theatre in London from 1995-98. He has also directed for the Young Vic, Almeida Opera and the National Theatre. David's work for the Royal Shakespeare Company includes the highly acclaimed production of Coriolanus starring Greg Hicks, his own play Night of the Soul and a new production of Julius Caesar. Farr is an established writer and his works for stage have included Elton John's Glasses (Watford and West End), The Danny Crowe Show (Bush) and Crime and Punishment in Dalston (Arcola).

Sandy Orr, chairman of the Lyric, states "We are delighted that we have secured David as our new Artistic Director. He is widely recognised as one of the country's most talented young stage directors and writers and someone who has built a formidable reputation for his imaginative work in Bristol and elsewhere. We see this as a particularly strong appointment. Simon Mellor, our Executive Director, and Neil Bartlett have, over the last 10 years, established the Lyric Hammersmith as one of the most innovative theatres in the country. By appointing David to work alongside Simon, we have made plain our intentions to keep the Lyric at the cutting edge of British theatre and to ensure that the Lyric continues to nurture and develop the next generation of theatre makers."

David Farr states "The Lyric Hammersmith has long been one of my favorite theatres, a stage on which I have seen work as wide-ranging and ground-breaking as anywhere in the country. I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to take the Lyric on the next leg of its theatrical adventure. I want to bring to The Lyric's diverse and dynamic audience a body of work that celebrates all the magical possibilities of the live theatre experience."

David Farr takes up his post at the Lyric in June 2005 and will programme the 2005-6 autumn/spring season.