Lyric Theatre

2008

Architect:
O’ Donnel-Tuomey Architects

Described by Daily Telegraph architecture critic Ellis Woodman as one of “the best British buildings constructed this century,” the stunning building has won a series of awards for its architecture over the years. For this project, a custom chair was developed in close collaboration with the auditorium’s designers. The faceted Iroko wood finish and the comfortable upholstery of the seats made a significant contribution to creating a warm and acoustically perfect environment.

“When they take their seats for the first time, audience members can notice the care taken in positioning each individual seat,” explained Peter Ruthven Hall of Theatreplan. “Our expert Neil Morton worked on the architect’s designs for the diamond-shaped auditorium and created an asymmetrical seating arrangement, with no two rows identical. This ensures an optimal view for every audience member. The custom DEKO seats feature side supports instead of a central post, so we had to adjust each seat by carefully rotating its linear geometry toward the stage before fixing it in place.”

Accessibility was fundamental, and the Lyric is unusual in that it can accommodate audience members with enhanced needs in various points of the auditorium. Some seats can be removed in different locations, and a motorized platform can be used to position a wheelchair at a suitable sightline height relative to the seats in front and behind.

Lyric Theatre

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