Local people are being encouraged by the Culture Minister to help London’s Lyric Theatre raise the last £1.5m needed for its £13.5m project, to create the country’s first teaching theatre. At an event to launch an individual-giving campaign, Ed Vaizey praised the fundraising efforts so far, for what he called an “exciting addition to West London’s thriving performing arts scene”. Funding for the new facilities, work on which will begin in the spring, has so far come solely from the public purse, including Arts Council England, Hammersmith and Fulham Council, the London Development Agency and directly from the Department for Education. When complete early next year, the extension will link directly with the existing theatre and will include theatre, dance, TV and recording studios, a 60-seat cinema, a scenic workshop and meeting rooms. Up to 20,000 young people a year will benefit through apprenticeship programmes, formal education and extra-curricular activities.
