Evolution Festival playing at Lyric Hammersmith Theatre

A festival showcasing new writing and re-imagined classics is returning to a West London theatre for the sixth time.

Evolution Festival runs from March 1 to 5 and will be headlined by The Bill Cashmore Award-winning new play Kick, directed by Yasmin Hafesji.

Four classic plays – Electra, Yerma, The Importance of Being Earnest and Three Sisters – which have been re-imagined and co-created by young directors and designers will also run.

There will also be four nights of scratch performances, created by members of the Lyric’s inaugural Springboard training programme and five short premiere screenings of new takes on classic dramas.

Rachel O’Riordan, Artistic Director at Lyric Hammersmith Theatre said: “I am delighted Evolution Festival is returning to the Lyric for a sixth year and that we can bring together these extraordinary young artists to reimagine plays in a new way, reframing them and taking ownership of classic texts.

“From directors, designers, writers to filmmakers and performers, each artist will be given the opportunity to develop vital skills and create new work for audiences in a professional, supportive atmosphere.

“I am also delighted that we are working with the Roundhouse to expand Evolution Festival onto screen. This is a really exciting new festival partnership for us.”

Evolution Festival gives a platform to young theatre makers to produce new work for stage and screen.

Artists from previous years have gone on to create shows at the Lyric, the Vaults, the Bunker Theatre, Battersea Arts Centre, and the Young Vic and include directors Stef O’Driscoll, Gavin Joseph, TD. Moyo and Diane Page, and actor and author Nathan Bryon.

Main picture: Yasmin Hafesji (Kick Director)