South Yorks: Lyceum is open and gleaming after £1.93 million refurbishment

The newly refurbished auditorium of the Lyceum Theatre

The project has run to time, and on budget and This Is My Family was the first production to be staged at the venue since the work was completed.

The Lyceum was one of Sheffield’s major theatres until 1968 when it was closed and had to be saved from demolition 1975, despite being granted Grade II listed status.

A £12 million restoration between 1998 and 2000 transformed it back into a top regional theatre.

This latest refurbishment was carried out with £1 million from Arts Council England, £500,000 from Sheffield City Council and the remaining £430,000 raised by Sheffield Theatres.

It focused on three main priorities – improving the audience experience, increasing the theatre’s production capability and improving the building’s operational efficiency.

Sheffield Theatres’ chief executive Dan Bates said : “I’m thrilled to welcome audiences and actors back to the Lyceum.”

“The theatre has been beautifully restored, renovated and reinvigorated creating a more comfortable experience.

“Our audiences are at the heart of this project and we are incredibly grateful for the way they have supported the fund-raising and made this possible.”