Bringing Ghana into Hammersmith.
The Lyric Theatre, also known as the Lyric Hammersmith, is a prominent theatre located on Lyric Square in Hammersmith, London. It serves as the civic and creative hub of West London, aiming to make the transformative power of theatre accessible to all.
I was approached to create a captivating poster and develop materials for the marketing campaign of the highly anticipated production of School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play.
Set in 1986 at Ghana’s prestigious Aburi Girls Boarding School, this critically acclaimed comedy delves into the universal yet distinct experiences faced by teenage girls worldwide.
Written by Jocelyn Bioh and directed by Monique Touko, the production is presented in association with Mark Gordon Pictures and Francesca Moody Productions, with Idris Elba serving as associate producer.
Services:
Creative conceptualisation
Creative direction
Graphic design
Artwork & production
School's in.
The creative brief called for a visually engaging and contemporary design that would highlight the comedic nature of the play while also conveying its cultural context. Additionally, there was a desire for visual coherence with the thematic positioning of the 2004 comedy film ‘Mean Girls.’
To begin, I incorporated the Lyric Hammersmith’s brand typeface into the title treatment design. I also integrated a tiara graphic, inspired by the beauty pageant depicted in the play, along with the show’s colour scheme. This title treatment was used for the teaser campaign during the production phase.
The visual elements I selected for the artwork were guided by the objectives outlined by the Lyric Theatre and the creative team behind the show. The goal was to create bold and impactful artwork that evoked the high production quality of a Hollywood film.
The Concept:
After exploring different concepts through sketches and working drafts, incorporating elements from previous productions and placeholder images, I presented two distinct routes that formed the basis for the final artwork. We enlisted the talented photographer Chantel King to execute the photoshoot with the actors, and I provided additional art direction to ensure the desired outcome.
The Artwork:
Following an excellent shoot directed by Chantel and her team, I finalized the key-poster image by digitally adding a textured background. The composition featured the performers in full length, offering ample space for copy and ensuring legibility and accessibility.
The resulting image is iconic, exuding a premium and joyful feel, with the performers exuding personality and warmth. It successfully captures the energetic atmosphere we aimed to create from the project’s inception.
We then adapted the key art for various mediums and formats to support the broader marketing campaign across London, including print, out-of-home (OOH), social media, and digital platforms.
School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play – key-art poster, by Greg Bunbury
School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play – Lyric Hammersmith King St, by Greg Bunbury
School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play – Lyric Hammersmith Box Office, by Greg Bunbury
School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play – 48 sheet billboard, Brixton, by Greg Bunbury
School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play – Lyric Hammersmith internal posters, by Greg Bunbury
School Girls… A5 flyer front
School Girls… A5 flyer reverse
One gassed babe. #NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/qyNzObccOo
— Bola Akeju (@BolaAkejuu) June 17, 2023
We open very soon 🙌🏿. This play, you lot ahh it’s a special one. There will be dj sets, bsl & relaxed performances, q&as & black out night. @LyricHammer are really looking after us. I even hear there will be GHANAIAN jollof. Book now: https://t.co/nzGctfByOa 8th June- 15 July 🇬🇭 pic.twitter.com/iyW8V63Sao
— Heather Agyepong (@heatha_a) May 21, 2023