Lyric Hammersmith Theatre announces 2022 season, plays by Patrick Marber and Roy Williams

There's also a new play by Mike Bartlett.

The Lyric Hammersmith Theatre has announced the 2022 season of work, with plays scheduled to October 2022. The season includes a revival of Patrick Marber's Closer, as well as a modern retelling of Henrik Ibsen's Hedda Gabler.

"We are so proud and excited to be able to share this season with our audience. This past 18 months has been tough for our industry; theatre has felt vulnerable, as has our society" said artistic director Rachel O'Riordan. She continued by stating that "the writers and directors whose work will be shared with you in our beautiful auditorium are bold, thrilling, artists. We look forward to welcoming the wider creative teams, actors and audiences to the Lyric, at the heart of West London. It is good to be back."

Lyric Hammersmith and Talawa Theatre Company will co-produce Sian Carter's Running with Lions, which begins previews on 10 February, with an opening night on 15 February and performances to 12 March. Running With Lions follows a British-Caribbean family who struggle to come to terms with the death of Joshy, a loved one. 

The world premiere of Mike Bartlett's new play, Scandaltown, will be staged at Lyric Hammersmith. Set in a post-pandemic capital, Scandaltown follows Phoebe Virtue, a woman who receives news via Instagram that her twin brother, Jack, is behaving irresponsibly. Rachel O'Riordan directs, with previews from 7 April, an opening night on 13 April and performances to 14 May. 

Timberlake Wertenbaker will then adapt Jean Racine's Britannicus, which explores how monarchy and dictatorships function through the Roman Emperor Nero. Atri Banerjee will direct Britannicus, with previews from 26 May, an opening night on 1 June and performances to 25 June. 

The 25th anniversary revival of Patrick Marber's Closer is at Lyric Hammersmith from 14 July - 13 August, with an opening night on 20 July. Clare Lizzimore directs the four-person comedy, which sees strangers meet, fall in love and then grow distant from each other. 

The season ends with a new version of Hedda Gabler, newly titled Heather. Roy Williams' adaptation will see the title character hating the life that's she found herself in, trying to break free from society. Ola Ince will direct Heather, with previews from 29 September, an opening night on 5 October and performances to 29 October.

The Lyric Hammersmith will also host a three-day festival, titled For the Culture: Celebrations of Blackness in January 2022, curated by Dr. Peggy Brunache, Tinuke Craig and Nicholai La Barrie. In summer 2022, Amici Dance Theatre Company will celebrate their 40th anniversary with One World: Wealth of the Common People. 

^{Photo credit: Lyric Hammersmith Theatre (Photo by Chris Payne)}