Lyric Hammersmith Summer Party

By Hazel Last edited 200 months ago
Lyric Hammersmith Summer Party
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Despite the recent bomb scare in Hammersmith, and despite the weather giving us anything remotely like summer sunshine, this patch of West London is still determined to have the Lyric Hammersmith Summer Party.

The Lyric Hammersmith sits above the shops and chain restaurants of King Street and is a jumble of architectural periods: a cool, minimalist, glass-fronted entrance on Lyric Square leads up to the functional theatre lobby and rather bleak roof terrace. Then, from the landings that recall well-used community halls across the land, complete with worn grey carpets, audiences enter the main stage... and discover a plush red velvet recreation of a classical 19th century auditorium.

The entire building will be thrown open to the public this Saturday for a day of free events both indoors and outdoors and uniting the rather hectic schedule is a water theme. A massive whale will be parked in Lyric Square and visitors are invited to enter its gaping mouth for a 3 minute performance, circus and acrobat acts will take place wherever they can be fitted in, an open invitation to join a large scale umbrella dance and as it is still Sing London week, singing classes will be hosted on the roof terrace so those brave enough to join in can belt out a tune to the shoppers on King Street below.

It's an event meant for everyone and though much of the programme is aimed at children and young families, we have been several years in a row as hip young things about town - and we loved it. Two good cafes and some pleasantly quirky, uplifting performances, lots of happy, smiling people and delighted children, all without costing a single penny. There are worse ways to wait out a wet weekend.

The Lyric Hammersmith Summer Party at the Lyric Hammersmith, Saturday 7 July from 10.30am to 5pm, free. For more information and a full programme, go to the Summer Party website here.

Last Updated 05 July 2007