Locally grown star PJ Harvey backed the final push to save Bridport’s historic Lyric Theatre, with a personal donation to its crowdfunder campaign to save the building’s roof.
Urgent repairs are needed for the roof of the 250-year-old theatre.
Tucked away on a side street in Bridport, The Lyric is one of those places people stumble across by chance. Visitors often stop in their tracks when they step inside, greeted by red-and-gold flocked wallpaper, faded grandeur and an intimate auditorium that feels like a hidden treasure.
PJ Harvey and her band spent an extended residency at the theatre rehearsing for a world tour, while Billy Bragg has also developed work in the building. PJ Harvey’s recent BBC Radio 6 Music interview was recorded there.
The theatre has also received public support from Academy Award-winning actor Olivia Colman, who said: “The Lyric is a truly special place at the heart of Bridport’s creative community.
“Spaces like this are so important – not only for artists and storytellers, but for the people who come together there to create and to connect. It would be a terrible loss if this beautiful theatre were not protected for future generations.”
The Lyric’s roof has deteriorated badly over the years, with persistent water ingress taking its toll. Slates continue to slip, leaks are getting worse, and long-term water damage has already left part of the theatre’s listed ceiling in a poor state.
Stopgap fixes such as plastic sheeting have helped hold back the water, but they can no longer keep pace with the damage. Without urgent repair work, the theatre’s spaces, workshops and equipment all face further, unavoidable harm.
The Lyric was rescued from redevelopment in 2010 by theatre-maker Niki McCretton, whose vision was to restore it as a place where professional artists and complete beginners could create side by side. McCretton sold her own house to help secure the theatre.
Since then, the theatre has welcomed performers, writers and musicians from across the globe. One of its very first artist residencies hosted a trio from Brooklyn after McCretton realised it was actually cheaper for them to fly to Bridport than to stage their work in Manhattan.
Over its 250-year history the Lyric has been many things – one of Britain’s earliest electric cinemas, a Temperance Hall, a Liberal Hall and home to the Bernard Gale School of Dance.
More than 550 people already backed the crowdfunder, helping to raise just over the £100,000 target as the WDM went to press. The campaign has also secured £170,000 in funding from Arts Council England.
The local community has organised a remarkable range of fundraising events.
Niki McCretton said: “We are deeply grateful to PJ Harvey. Polly’s support is enormously meaningful to us. Seeing one of Bridport’s most celebrated artists champion the future of the Lyric Theatre speaks volumes about the value of creativity in our town.”
PJ Harvey’s Dorset roots
Polly Jean Harvey was born and raised on a farm in Dorset, and the county has stayed at the heart of her music ever since.
Her most recent work draws directly on local folklore and dialect, and she’s spoken about how growing up surrounded by Bridport’s artistic community gave her the confidence to trust her own voice as a songwriter.
Now 55 and one of the most acclaimed musicians of her generation, with eight Grammy nominations to her name, she still calls Dorset home.
In January 2025 she was given a special honour at the Original Music Awards, celebrating her deep and lasting connection to the county that shaped her.
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