In line with current government advice, the Bush Theatre has today announced that their building will be reopening on 6 August with social distancing measures in place and new interim opening times.
Over the summer the Bush Theatre will be running activities for young people, aspiring theatre-makers and local residents, and the Library Bar will be serving drinks and food.
The Summer Project will engage 14-17-year-old West Londoners in creative workshops that explore storytelling, acting, and creative writing, before their return to school in September. The masterclasses, facilitated by practitioners including actor Adjoa Andoh (Doctor Who, Richard II, Leave Taking), writer Jonathan Harvey (Beautiful Thing, Coronation Street) and writer and director Rikki Beadle-Blair (Team Angelica), will be open to all budding theatre-makers. The Bush is also building on their longstanding partnerships with local organisations to support several community responses to the pandemic - from after school clubs to food collection initiatives.
Due to the pandemic, the venue has lost 40% of its income. To support its reopening, the theatre today launches 'Write the Bush's Future', a fundraising campaign for friends of the Bush to pledge their support from as little as £60. The money raised by this group of very special donors will support the theatre's artistic team and artists to create the innovative, groundbreaking theatre that the Bush is known for.
To make it as safe as possible for visitors, the Bush team has made key changes to the Library Bar and front of house areas, including introducing table booking, enhanced cleaning measures, social distancing, and guidance for visitors.
More details on the new opening times and safety measures can be found on the Bush website.
Artistic Director Lynette Linton said:
‘At the Bush, community comes first. As we journey out of this crisis we are bringing our local communities and our family of artists with us. We are opening our building to support them through the summer and when we can put shows on in our theatres again they will be stories that are as bold, electrifying, and diverse as the city we live in.’
SUMMER PROJECT
17 - 21 August
Led by Artistic Director, Lynette Linton and Associate Director, Daniel Bailey, the Bush Theatre presents a week-long crash course in theatre for 14-17-year-olds who are West London residents, which will be run in accordance with the current government guidelines. Aimed at theatre beginners, participants will take part in fun and creative workshops on storytelling, acting for stage, creative writing, dance, and more.
More details on the Summer Project and application process can be found on the Bush website.
MASTERCLASSES
Following the success of the Bush’s 10 Minute Masterclasses during Lockdown, the venue is launching four new masterclasses streamed live from the Bush Theatre’ Holloway Theatre. The masterclasses will offer an insight into theatre by leading practitioners including actor and Senior Artistic Associate of the Bush Theatre, Adjoa Andoh, writer, and director Rikki Beadle-Blair, writer Jonathan Harvey and director Anna Himali Howard.
With participants joining via Zoom, the sessions will develop skills in writing, directing, and performance for all levels.
Tickets are on sale online today, priced at £20. There are a limited number of bursary places available.
Monday 24 August, 2.30pm-5.30pm
Anna Himali Howard: Directing new writing
Tickets £20
How do you work with a writer to bring their new script to life?
Director and theatre maker Anna Himali Howard will take you through her tried and tested approaches to directing new writing and collaborating with writers, using Zia Ahmed's critically acclaimed I Wanna Be Yours, which she directed at the Bush Theatre in November 2019, as a focus point.
Tuesday 1 September, 5pm-6.30pm
On Playwriting: Q&A with Jonathan Harvey
Tickets £20
Since penning the hit play Beautiful Thing, which premiered at the Bush Theatre, Jonathan Harvey has become one of the UK’s best-loved writers, creating BAFTA-nominated sit-com Gimme Gimme Gimme and writing some of Coronation Street’s most gripping episodes.
Jonathan will be joining Lynette Linton to discuss his playwriting process, share advice on navigating the theatre and television industries, and answer questions from audience members.
Friday 11 September, 5pm-7pm
Rikki Beadle-Blair: How to have a creative career
Tickets £20
Join Rikki Beadle-Blair MBE for a fun, butt-kicking workshop to give you everything you need to take control of your creative working life.
A writer, director, composer, choreographer, designer, producer, and performer, Rikki has mentored a great many creatives including Noel Clarke, Joe Cole, Somalia Seaton, Tom Wright, Alexis Gregory, and Bush Theatre Artistic Director Lynette Linton. He has won several awards including the Sony Award, the Los Angeles Outfest Screenwriting, and Outstanding Achievement awards.
Monday 21 September, 2pm-5pm
Approaching unfamiliar texts with Adjoa Andoh
Tickets £20
You’ve got a last-minute audition.
You’re reading in for someone.
You start rehearsals soon and you want to get prepped
How do we prepare for unfamiliar texts? Take an afternoon with Adjoa Andoh to work through a variety of texts and try out some practical approaches.
Adjoa Andoh is a film, television and theatre actor and director. She recently co-directed and starred in Richard II at The Globe and has extensive experience in theatre with the RSC, the Bush (Leave Taking), Young Vic, and at the National Theatre. Upcoming projects include Bridgerton (Netflix).
PARTNERSHIPS TO OPEN UP THE BUILDING TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY
Through this time the Bush Theatre is supporting local community partners that the venue has developed relationships with over a number of years.
Shepherd’s Bush Families Project will be hosting children and young people from their service at the Bush Theatre to support their holiday provision for young people. The theatre will work with Shepherd’s Bush Families Project to host 8 sessions for children and young people in August, as well as facilitating additional sessions for children in Year 5 - Year 7 to support them to express their feelings through creative activities. Bush Theatre will also be hosting English language classes for adult participants.
The Bush are delivering an online project with the senior group at Associate Young Company White City Youth Theatre, with the aim of creating a bespoke radio play that will be recorded at the theatre in August.
The Bush will also be collecting donations of Afro-Caribbean food products and clothing basics for Nubian Life and Barons Court Project's Women's Group and creating creative care kits for participants.
LIBRARY BAR REOPENING
The popular Library Bar is also reopening to serve craft beers, bespoke cocktails, and nibbles.
Visitors can nestle among the bookshelves of the Gianni and Michael Alen-Buckley Script Library with a cup of tea, chat with friends in the bar, or enjoy watching the world of Shepherd’s Bush go by from the outdoor terrace.
More details on the bar offer and how to book a table can be found on the Bush website. Booking ahead is encouraged to avoid disappointment.
WRITE THE BUSH’S FUTURE
Beyond reopening the building and launching these summer projects, the Bush team continues to read scripts, meet with writers, care for the creative needs of its community and dream up big projects for the future. But in the current climate, where the venue has lost 40% of its income which would normally come from ticket sales, the Bush needs support more than ever to ensure its future.
For this reason, the venue is launching the ‘Write the Bush’s Future’ campaign which gives people a chance to join the Bush Supporter community from as little as £60. The money raised by this group of very special donors will give the artistic team, writers, and emerging artists the time and space to create the innovative, groundbreaking theatre for which the Bush is internationally famous. One day we will perform to audiences again but while we wait for that we need help to Write the Bush’s Future.
