Lyric - START interested in the creative industry?

This year, the Lyric Hammersmith’s flagship NEET performance programme START turns 18 years old! We are delighted to be celebrating the creative and personal development of the hundreds of young people we have worked with across West London on this programme

What is START?
• START is a 4 day a week, 6 week programme for anyone who is interested in the creative arts and performing (this could be acting, creative writing, music, poetry, dance)
• It is open to 16-25 year olds in West London* who are NEET (not in employment, education or training)
• Over the 6 weeks, the cohort will be led by theatre professionals to create a new piece of theatre
• The Lyric provide a space for young people to build on their self-confidence, collaboration skills, emotional resilience, and self-esteem

* Accept referrals Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Kensington and Chelsea, Richmond upon Thames, Wandsworth and Westminster

The START Journey
1. A young person is referred to the START programme via referral form
2. The Lyric gets in contact with the young person via text to share more information and answer any questions they have about the programme
3. The young person attends an in person enrolment at the Lyric
4. START begins! They attend the Lyric 4 days a week, for 6 weeks, where they will have all travel covered as well as lunch provided
5. During this, they attend a main house show, take part in skill shares, drama exercises and devising games, creating a new piece of theatre in collaboration with their group
6. The cohort performs their new piece of theatre to family and friends in a professionally photographed and recorded performance!
7. The cohort are awarded an Arts Award Level 1, and are offered reflective free creative pathways either at the Lyric, or in alternative creative organisations
8. The cohort are added to the free Young Lyric membership, where they regularly receive arts opportunities

If you are working with any NEET young people with an interest in the arts (this could be writing, acting, performing, music, dance, poetry) who would be interested in taking part, please do get in contact , or directly refer them via our referral form: https://lyric.co.uk/young-lyric/inclusionandpathways/targeted-work-form/

Alternatively, could we kindly ask you to share this opportunity to anyone or any organisations who could be interested in this programme?

The START term dates for the academic year of 2024-5 are:
1. Autumn Term: w/c 24th February 2025 to w/c 31st March 2025
2. Spring Term: w/c 7th July 2025 to w/c 11th August 2025
3. Summer Term: w/c 27th October 2025 to w/c 1st December 2025

Our new free project for adults in West London is due to start, with no upper age limit to take part. Please see below and attached flyer and please share

The Lyric Hammersmith Theatre is looking for adults who are South Asian and part of the Global Majority to take part in a Creative Response Project to our upcoming main house show, Marriage Material.

Over 3 weeks, led by Neetu Singh, you will creatively explore the themes of our upcoming main house show, Marriage Material, by Gupreet Kaur Bhatti, based on the novel by Sathnam Sanghera. You will work as a company to create and perform a brand new show in the Lyric Hammersmith Studio on Friday 27th June 2025 for an invited audience!
This is open to all levels of abilities and no previous performance or theatre experience is required.
We particularly encourage applicants from a South Asian heritage, or who are neuro divergent, d/Deaf, disabled, part of the LGBTQ+ community, those from low-income households, those in care, are care leavers, or are carers.

In order to apply, you must be:
• Aged 18 or over
• From South Asian or Global Majority heritage
• Interested in devising and performing theatre
• Based in West London
o Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Kensington and Chelsea, Richmond upon Thames, Wandsworth and Westminster

Sessions will take place 6.30pm to 8.30pm at the Lyric on the below dates:
• Monday 9 June
• Tuesday 10 June
• Thursday 12 June
• Monday 16 June
• Tuesday 17 June
• Thursday 19 June
• Monday 23 June
• Tuesday 24 June
• Friday 27 June – Performance

Please see full information and application form here: https://lyric.co.uk/marriage-material-response-project/

The deadline to apply for this project is Monday 2nd June at 10am.

If you or anyone have any questions, please feel free to get in touch with us via participation@lyric.co.uk