Sean Holmes to leave Lyric Hammersmith after almost a decade in charge

Impact: Sean Holmes was praised for shows
Matt Writtle

The Lyric Hammersmith’s boss Sean Holmes today announced he is stepping down after almost a decade, to hand over the reins to a new generation.

The artistic director of the west London venue, who oversaw a multi-million-pound refurbishment, is the latest high-profile theatre figure to move on in recent months. David Lan left the Young Vic after 18 years in January and Josie Rourke has announced that she will leave the Donmar Warehouse.

Holmes, who won critical plaudits for revivals of works as varied as Bugsy Malone and Sarah Kane’s Blasted, said he had been “incredibly lucky” to be in charge of the theatre.

“There have been successes and failures — some glorious — but the Lyric has always remained defiantly itself,” he said. “A local, London, national, international theatre, proud of its Hammersmith roots and open to all. I’m going to miss it very much, but I feel it is time for a new generation to take over the helm and look forward with great anticipation and excitement to seeing a new artistic vision illuminating the theatre I love.”

Holmes, who took over in 2009, will step down in October and the search for his successor begins this month.

His tenure has seen more than 50,000 free tickets given to people who live and work in Hammersmith and Fulham and the opening of a dance studio, 50-seat cinema and a recording studio as well as the launch of the Evolution Festival showcasing young Londoners’ work.

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Executive director Sian Alexander said Holmes, who is returning to freelance directing work, left the theatre “in rude health”. Among the other shows produced by Holmes are revivals of Shopping And F***ing and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Chair of the board Lisa Burger praised the “extraordinary range of work” he had brought to the venue. She said: “Diversity and work with and for children and young people has been a focus during his tenure and this has increased in impact and reach following the completion of the Reuben Foundation Wing in 2015.”

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