Marriage Material: 22 May – 21 June
The Bains family have run the corner shop in Wolverhampton for three generations. In 1969 Mrs Bains is balancing running the business, looking after her ill husband and controlling her two strong-willed daughters, who want very different futures.
In the present day, a family tragedy draws Arjan Bains from back from London. The shop represents everything he has tried to escape, but his mother insists it should stay open. The play Marriage Material is adapted from the critically acclaimed novel Empireland.
Tucked just off King Street, the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, has a rich history dating back to 1888 when it began life as a music hall. It was rebuilt in 1895 by the renowned theatre architect Frank Matcham, who gave it its iconic decorative interior. Originally designed to bring popular entertainment to working-class Londoners, the Lyric has always aimed to be accessible and bold in its programming.
By the 1960s, the building was under threat of demolition. However, in a remarkable feat of preservation, the theatre’s ornate interior was painstakingly dismantled and reassembled within a brand-new structure in 1979. This act of dedication reinforced the Lyric’s enduring ethos: honouring tradition while embracing innovation.
Over the decades, the Lyric has championed new writing, experimental theatre, and education. It’s long been known for nurturing emerging talent and engaging young people from diverse backgrounds through its wide-ranging outreach work.
The Lyric remains a creative hub for West London, combining classic productions with cutting-edge contemporary works. Its mission continues to focus on inclusivity, community, and pushing artistic boundaries—a theatre not only with a past, but with purpose
Lyric Theatre. Tickets £15 – £44
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