Lyric - START interested in the creative industry?

What is START?
🎭 A free creative training programme culminating in a performance on the Lyric Hammersmith’s MAIN STAGE
🍕 All lunches, refreshments, and travel costs will be provided for the duration of the course
📅 START takes place Monday to Thursday, 11am to 3.30pm, for 6 weeks, beginning on Monday 27th October
📝 An accredited course- young people will receive a Bronze Arts Award accreditation
☝️ An opportunity to be taught by theatre professionals on self-confidence, emotional resilience, performance, collaboration, and employability skills
📷 Professionally photographed for any portfolios/certificates needed

Who is it for?
📍 16-25 year olds in West London* who are NEET (not in employment, education or training)
📍 * Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Kensington and Chelsea, Richmond upon Thames, Wandsworth and Westminster
🎤 Those who are interested in the creative arts and performing (this could be acting, creative writing, music, poetry, dance)
👋 Those looking for a supportive space to build routine, socialise, and benefit from a friendly yet ambitious environment

For any questions please get in touch with us on 020 8741 6822 ext 425, or via alessandra.zavagno@lyric.co.uk.

SOON CLOSING!

Applications for our 2026 cohort of SPRINGBOARD are now OPEN! Please could we ask you to share this with anyone who could be interested?

Applications are now OPEN for The Lyric Hammersmith Theatre’s 2026 cohort of SPRINGBOARD trainees!

SPRINGBOARD is our year-long free part-time actor training programme that aims to find, shape, inspire, champion and sustain the next generation of performers from underrepresented backgrounds.

Successful applicants, training with us from January to November 2026, will be enrolled in the programme, benefitting from a bursary of £200 per month during term time that will support them while they take part in a wide range of development initiatives including an original Studio production, a Studio showcase, weekly actor training, filming actor showreels, industry workshops and masterclasses, artist development mentoring, and training opportunities both on and off the stage. Trainees also receive:

 Free headshots throughout programme

 Free rehearsal, self tape, writing and meeting space at the Lyric during and after the programme

 Invitations to all Lyric Press Nights for our 2026-7 season

 Free and discounted tickets for London-wide theatre performances

 Rehearsal observation for every Lyric Main House show, and masterclasses from every Lyric Main House Director in our 2026-7 season

 The ability to secure a TFL student card which provides a third off travel costs

 Eligibility for discounted Graduate membership on Spotlight

 Meetings regarding union representation, freelance tax accountancy, professional networking, and more

 Direct offers of employment throughout and after SPRINGBOARD with the Lyric

What are we looking for?

 Those who are passionate about acting, performing, and entering the industry professionally

 Those who have not attended a fee-paying school, with the exception of bursary & scholarship recipients

 We are particularly interested in hearing from those who are a part of the Global Majority, neurodivergent, d/Deaf, disabled, part of the LGBTQ+ community, those from low-income households, those in care, are care leavers, or are carers.

You must:

 Be aged 18-25 by the start of the programme, January 2026

 Live in West London: Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Kensington and Chelsea, Richmond Upon Thames, Wandsworth and Westminster

 Have little to no formal actor training

Application Process:

 Applications close on Monday 24th November at midday.

 First round: Monday 1st December, a slot between 10:00 – 18:00 (group audition)

 Second round: Thursday 4th December, a slot between 10:00 – 18:00 (individual recall & informal interview)

For full information, FAQs, and to apply: https://lyric.co.uk/springboard-application-form-2026/

If you feel unsure about your eligibility for this programme, or have any questions, please have a look at our FAQs, or get in touch with Alessandra at participation@lyric.co.uk.

HAPPENING NOW!

We’re thrilled to be sharing that submissions for the Bill Cashmore Award 2026 have opened! Please could we ask you to share this with any groups or networks who could be interested?

Submissions are now OPEN for the second year of the Bill Cashmore Award: One Act Play Prize

2025 award winning plays The Mending Circle by Chloe Yates and Friendsgiving by Shona Graham, Lyric Hammersmith Studio 2025

The Bill Cashmore Award, presented by Young Lyric, offers a paid opportunity for two new one-act plays by writers aged 18-30, to be professionally produced at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre. The two winning plays will run as a double bill and will be performed by the Lyric’s SPRINGBOARD trainee actors in Autumn 2026.

To submit, you must:

• Be aged 18-30 at the time of submission and based in the U.K. (incl Northern Ireland)

• Be without professional representation (ie. a literary agent)

• Have no more than 2 professional writing credits

The two successful writers will:

• Receive a fee of £4,000.11 (exclusive of royalties)

• Receive an agreed contribution to your travel for attendance in person if required

• Be creatively involved in shaping the marketing and involved in the rehearsal process

• Receive dramaturgical support

• Receive complimentary invites to tickets to all performances

• Be invited to Lyric Press Nights

We particularly welcome submissions from those who are underrepresented in theatre and/or situated in areas culturally underserved. Please see our FAQs for more details. Applications close on Tuesday 6th January at 12pm. Please see here for full information, our FAQs, and to submit: https://lyric.co.uk/bill-cashmore-award/

The award is kindly supported by the Bill Cashmore Award Founder Sasha Bates.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us via talentdevelopment@lyric.co.uk or 020 8741 6822.

We are delighted to present a second year of free tickets to attend relaxed performances of our festive season. Please see below for further details:

The Lyric Hammersmith Theatre are inviting young people with SEND in *West London to attend our relaxed performances to our Christmas shows for free!

Who are these free tickets for?
• *These tickets are only available for young people with SEND who live in or attend schools in the following London boroughs: Barnet, Brent, Camden, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Harrow, Kensington & Chelsea, City of London and Westminster.

What is a relaxed performance?
• They are specifically planned and programmed to welcome those who will benefit from a more relaxed performance environment (you can leave and re-enter as you like, walk, make noise, sound will be played at a lower volume, lights and affects will be adjusted). A social story and easy read story will be provided.

When are the shows?
• Father Christmas
o Tuesday 25th November at 10:30am
o Friday 28th November at 9:30am
o Sunday 30th November at 9:30am
• Jack & the Beanstalk
o Tuesday 2nd December at 10am

These tickets are kindly supported by John Lyon’s Charity.
For full information and to request tickets, please see here: https://lyric.co.uk/young-lyric/opportunities/free-send-tickets/ or call our Box Office on 02087416822. If you have any questions, please get in touch with us via Alessandra.zavagno@lyric.co.uk.

AND

Please see below from the Lyric & Action on Disability for any young people or groups who may be suitable or interested.

Join us for our FREE Youth Theatre class, open to those aged 16 – 25 from West London, a partnership between Action on Disability and the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre.

4pm - 6pm, Tuesdays, at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre

During this weekly, class you will explore and improve your performance and theatre abilities, working over ten weeks to develop your performance and devising skills.

You will be responding to the Lyric Hammersmith’s Main House show, Dracula, by making a new piece of theatre. Led by two directors, James and Natcha, you will perform this to family and friends in the final session of term! This is an ambitious and inclusive space for Disabled young people who are interested in drama and performance, led by theatre professionals! Our groups can access £5 tickets to our main house shows, as well as further free and low cost arts opportunities from us.

FREE, from Tue 23rd Sep – Tue 2nd Dec

If we can support young people's interest with a tour of the Lyric, speaking to them or their parents/carers, please let us know!

This programme is kindly supported by Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation.

For more information and to book on: https://lyric.co.uk/classes/aod-youth-theatre-16-25-autumn-term-2025/