‘The reports of the death of new writing are greatly exaggerated.’ says Bush Theatre’s Artistic Director, Lynette Linton. ‘New writing is alive and kicking in West London. The Bush has just celebrated 50 years at the forefront of new writing and our shows played to packed houses and critical acclaim. Throughout our work we continually reaffirm our dedication to talent development both on and off stage and with community engagement front and centre of everything we do, will continue to be the artistic hub of West London.’
‘Today we’re looking ahead to a season including a new Bush commission, a highlight from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and the return of two popular shows and writers that our audiences weren’t ready to say goodbye to. And if that wasn’t enough, a Bush ‘Big Up’ to our Bush Young Company who are back with their second season of work. These young people are the future of theatre and I cannot wait to collaborate with them. - All of this goes on sale today with ticket prices starting from as little as £15.’
In the Holloway Theatre
A Bush Theatre production
A PLAYLIST FOR THE REVOLUTION
Written by AJ Yi
Directed by Emily Ling Williams
23 June - 5 August
Monday - Saturday at 7.30 pm
Wednesday matinees - 5, 12, 19, 26 Jul & 2 Aug at 2.30 pm
Saturday matinees - 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Jul & 5 Aug at 2.30 pm
Relaxed performance - 8 Jul at 2.30 pm & 27 Jul at 7.30 pm
Captioned performance - 13 Jul at 7.30 pm & 22 Jul at 2.30 pm
Audio-described performance - 15 Jul at 2.30 pm & 20 Jul at 7.30 pm
Press Night - 29 June at 7 pm
The world premiere of AJ Yi’s A Playlist for the Revolution, a tender and surprising story of young love fighting to survive, opens the Bush’s new season.
A wedding in Hong Kong, 2019. Two worlds collide. A spark ignites.
Jonathan is a buttoned-up classical pianist, and he’s pretty sure his life will look just like his father’s: a good job, a family, firmly settled in Hong Kong.
Chloe is about to start university in England, and she’s ready to be the Asian Elle Woods. Empowered by the music of BTS, M.I.A and Beyonce (of course), she has big plans to make her mark.
Through months of sharing messages, music reccs, and late-night confessions, the two get swept up in the promise of how someone unexpected can change your world. What they don’t realise is that the world around them is about to change forever.
A rom-com right up until it can’t be, A Playlist for the Revolution is set against the backdrop of the largest demonstrations in Hong Kong’s history. This explosive and deeply-moving play is a new Bush commission, written by AJ Yi and directed by Emily Ling Williams.
This production is generously supported by Charles Holloway.
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A Bush Theatre production
RED PITCH
Written by Tyrell Williams
Directed by Daniel Bailey
Cast - Kedar Williams-Stirling, Emeka Sesay and Francis Lovehall
In association with Chuchu Nwagu Productions
7 - 30 September
Monday - Saturday at 7.30 pm
Wednesday matinees - 13, 20, 27 Sept at 2.30 pm
Saturday matinees - 16, 23, 30 Sept at 2.30 pm
Relaxed performance - 16 Sept at 7.30 pm
Captioned performance - 21 Sept at 7.30 pm
Audio-described performance - 23 Sept at 7.30 pm
Press Night - 11 September at 7 pm
The smash-hit sold-out story of brotherhood returns to the Bush Theatre for three weeks only.
Experience the full-throttle power of one of the hit productions of our anniversary year performed by the original cast. Kedar Williams-Stirling, Emeka Sesay and Francis Lovehall play three football-obsessed teens in director Daniel Bailey’s ‘energetic, artfully staged production’ (Evening Standard).
‘The way they’re changing endz is nuts.’
Red Pitch. South London. Three lifelong friends Omz, Bilal and Joey are playing football. Like they always have. Living out dreams of football stardom. Beyond their football pitch, local shops are closing, old flats are being demolished as new flats shoot up, some residents struggle to stay while others rush to leave.
When a small football pitch has been a home from home, a place you’ve laughed, fought and forged friendships, what happens when it’s under threat?
The fast-paced and sharp-edged play by Tyrell Williams tells a powerful story of gentrification versus regeneration and the impact of this relentless change on London’s communities.
The 2022 production of Tyrell Williams’ Red Pitch won the Off West End Award for Best New Play and Tyrell won the Evening Standard Award for Most Promising Playwright, The Stage Debut Award for Best Writer, the Critics’ Circle Theatre Award for Most Promising Playwright and the George Devine Award. The production was nominated for a further seven Off West End Awards including Best Production, Best Performance Ensemble and Best Director.
Supported by Cockayne Grants for the Arts, a donor-advised fund at the London Community Foundation, and Backstage Trust.
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A Bush Theatre production
ELEPHANT
Written and performed by Anoushka Lucas
Directed by Jess Edwards
14 October - 4 November
Monday - Saturday at 7.30 pm
Wednesday matinees - 25 Oct & 1 Nov at 2.30 pm
Saturday matinees - 21, 28 Oct & 4 Nov at 2.30 pm
Relaxed performance - 21 Oct at 7.30 pm
Captioned performance - 26 Oct at 7.30 pm
Audio-described performance - 28 Oct at 7.30 pm
Press Night - 19 October at 7 pm
Olivier award nominee Anoushka Lucas’ acclaimed debut play Elephant transfers to the Bush Theatre’s main house in a brand new production.
Part gig, part musical love story, part journey through Empire, this all-new main stage production of Anoushka Lucas’ ‘exquisite’ (Evening Standard) Elephant runs for just three weeks following its celebrated, sold-out run in the Bush’s Studio last year.
‘The men with the Piano look up the narrow staircase of our little flat and they turn to Dad, light their fags, and say; “We might have to take the windows out".'
A piano came through the sky and landed in Lylah's council flat, just for her. As she pours over the keys and sound floods into all the rooms, Lylah falls in love.
At school, Lylah can't ask questions - she's got to be good, good, good or else she'll lose her scholarship. At home she can't ask questions; her cousins say she talks weird, and her parents are distracted. So she asks her piano: Where did you come from? Why are you here? And their shared history tumbles into the light.
This expanded production reunites writer and performer Anoushka Lucas with original director Jess Edwards (Hotter/Fitter, Soho Theatre). Elephant first appeared as part of the Bush’s Protest series, a response to the murder of George Floyd.
This production is generously supported by Charles Holloway.
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Francesca Moody Productions in association with Bush Theatre
FEELING AFRAID AS IF SOMETHING TERRIBLE IS GOING TO HAPPEN
Written by Marcelo Dos Santos
Directed by Matthew Xia
Performed by Samuel Barnett
10 November - 23 December
Monday - Saturday at 7.30 pm
Wednesday matinees - 22, 29 Nov & 6, 13, 20 Dec at 2.30 pm
Saturday matinees - 18, 25 Nov & 2, 9,16, 23 Dec at 2.30 pm
Relaxed performance - 25 Nov at 2.30 pm & 14 Dec at 7.30 pm
Captioned performance - 30 Nov at 7.30 pm & 9 Dec at 2.30 pm
Audio-described performance - 2 Dec at 2.30 pm & 7 Dec at 7.30 pm
Press Night - 15 November at 7 pm
The Edinburgh Fringe sensation Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going To Happen transfers to the Bush for its first London run.
Fresh from sweeping critical acclaim at the Edinburgh Fringe - winning both a Scotsman Fringe First and The Stage Edinburgh Award - Samuel Barnett reprises his starring role in Marcelo Dos Santos’ ★★★★★ laugh-out-loud exploration of intimacy, anxiety and ego.
“I’m 36, I’m a comedian, and I’m about to kill my boyfriend…”
After years of swiping, a permanently single, professionally neurotic stand-up finally meets Mr Right - and then does everything wrong.
Strap in for a delightfully dark journey through self-awareness and self-sabotage as he decides whether love is worth the price of a killer punchline.
Feeling Afraid… is the ‘razor sharp’ (Scotsman) hit play from the producers of the Olivier award-winning Baby Reindeer and the international smash-hit Fleabag, and is directed by Olivier award-winner Matthew Xia.
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A Bush Theatre Community production from the 14-17 Bush Young Company
PASS IT ON
Created by the Young Company and Katie Greenall
Directed by Katie Greenall
10 - 12 August
Thursday - Saturday at 7.30 pm
Saturday matinee - Saturday 12 Aug at 2.30 pm
Strap in for a whirlwind journey through learning everything you were never taught but really want to know.
We all sit through the same classes, leaf through the same textbooks, being told what we should learn. But when you’re approaching adulthood, suddenly you realise all the things that have fallen between the gaps.
Whether it’s learning to ballroom dance like a pro on Strictly, falling in love across a language barrier, or just the impossible task of folding a fitted sheet, Pass It On is about life lessons big and small. Join us for a joyful and powerful journey that asks how we can help each other navigate the challenges of the world and not lose ourselves in the process.
The 14-17 Bush Young Company returns to the Bush Theatre’s main stage with a brand new production co-created with director Katie Greenall, following the success of last summer’s HORIZON.
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A Bush Theatre Community production from the 18-25 Bush Young Company
AS WE FACE THE SUN
Written by Kit Withington
Directed by Lynette Linton and Katie Greenall
21 -26 August
Monday - Saturday at 7.30 pm
Press Night - 23 August at 7 pm
They all agreed: every year they will throw the same party in the same place. What else can they do?
Determined to remember their friend, a group of classmates commit to throwing an annual party in her honour. It’s what she would have wanted. And year after year, they stuck to the tradition.
Now in their twenties, another party is about to start. The cake has arrived safely, the buffet is all set, and the aux cable is finally working - but something doesn’t feel right.
As We Face The Sun is a stark and tender story about growing up, the pleasures of friendship, why we hold onto things and how we might start to let go. A new commission written for the company by Kit Withington (Living Newspaper, Royal Court), directed by Lynette Linton and Katie Greenall.
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Previously announced in the Bush Theatre Studio
Ameena Hamid Productions presents the Bush Theatre production of
INVISIBLE
Written and performed by Nikhil Parmar
Directed by Georgia Green
Designed by Georgia Wilmott
Lighting Design by Laura Howard
Sound Design by Bella Kear
Movement Direction by Diane Alison-Mitchell
Dramaturgy by Deirdre O’Halloran
Company Stage Manager - Lois Sime
23 May - 9 June
Monday - Saturday at 8 pm
Wednesday matinees - 31 May & 7 June at 3 pm
Saturday matinees - 27 May & 3 June at 3 pm
Relaxed performance - Saturday 27 May at 8 pm
Captioned performance - Wednesday 31 May at 8 pm
Audio-described performance and touch tour - Wednesday 7 June at 8 pm
Press Night - 25 May at 7 pm
The critically acclaimed debut play from Nikhil Parmar returns to the Bush for a limited time ahead of its New York premiere. Invisible is a hilariously dark story tracking one man’s desperate struggle to be seen as the hero of his own narrative.
‘No more quiet, no more model minority, no more wacky best friend. At least when we were the bad guys we existed.’
Meet Zayan, an under-employed actor and over-employed dealer who sees himself as the hapless lead in the sitcom that is his life. Everyone else sees him as lazy, self-centred, and useless – if they even notice him at all.
As Zayan attempts to transition from being neglected to being notorious, we see how a man whose brushes with oppression, grief, and the sneaking suspicion that he’s become invisible have driven him to the unforgivable.
Written and performed by Nikhil Parmar (Sky TV’s Trollied) and directed by Georgia Green (The Mikvah Project, Orange Tree Theatre), Invisible will be seen as part of 59E59’s Brits Off Broadway season in New York from 13 June to 2 July.
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Tickets for Playlist For A Revolution, Red Pitch, Elephant and Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going To Happen are priced from £25 (concessions available), with £15 ‘Count Me In’ seats available at every performance.
Tickets for Invisible are priced from £12 (concessions available).
All tickets can be booked from today at bushtheatre.co.uk or at the Box Office on 020 8743 5050.
Tickets for Pass It On and As We Face The Sun will go on sale in June 2023.
Bush Connect free membership is now available for all Under 30s and full-time students. This year the discount has been doubled - you can now get £10 off tickets! See Bush Theatre’s website for details.
