The Bush Theatre is based in Shepherd's Bush, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. It was established in 1972 and has since become one of the most celebrated new writing theatres in the world. The Bush strives to create a space which nurtures, develops and showcases the best of new artists and their work.
A seedbed for the best new playwrights, many of whom have gone on to become established names in the industry, the Bush has produced hundreds of groundbreaking premieres, many of them Bush Theatre commissions, and hosted guest productions by leading companies and artists from across the world.
Artistic Directors
Jenny Topper (1977–88), jointly with Nicky Pallot (1979–90)[1]
On Thursday 6 April 1972, the Bush Theatre was established above The Bush public house on the corner of Goldhawk Road and Shepherd's Bush Green, in what was once the dance studio of Lionel Blair. It was established by a maverick actor, Brian McDermott, who used to tour the Fringe.[6] The venue, despite its fame and massive output, was intimate, only holding a maximum audience of approximately 80. The first production was an adaption of The Collector by John Fowles, directed by John Neville and starring Annette Andre and Brian McDermott.
Throughout 1992, the Bush Theatre celebrated 20 years at the frontier of new writing. "What has held the Bush together for 20 years? Blind faith, youthful commitment and a tenacious belief in new writing: above all, perhaps, the conviction that new work deserves the highest standards in acting, direction and design," The Guardian. The Bush won The Empty Space Award for the year's work, which included Billy Roche's Bush plays A Handful Of Stars, Poor Beatin The Rain and Belfry playing in repertory as The Wexford Trilogy, which toured to Wexford Opera House and the Abbey Theatre, Dublin.
In November 2010, the Bush Theatre announced it would be leaving its home of nearly forty years and moving to the old Passmore Edwards Public Library building, round the corner from its own home, on Uxbridge Road.[7]
The relocation took place in 2011 and opened with the "Sixty-Six Books" project.[8] This was a celebration of the anniversary of the publication of the King James Bible, which used 66 different writers, many of whom were veterans of the Bush.
That same year, Artistic Director Josie Rourke announced her departure from the Bush to take up the position of Artistic Director of the Donmar Warehouse. The Board appointed Madani Younis as her successor from January 2012. In 2013, newly appointed Madani Younis programmed the theatre's most successful season to date, which saw the theatre play to 99% capacity.
In Spring 2016, the Bush Theatre relocated its plays to found spaces around Shepherd's Bush and Notting Hill, as the former library building closed for the largest capital project in the theatre’s history.[9] Borrowing new and iconic spaces with their own histories and tales of the local community, this season of work welcomed new audiences and residents by offering a number of free and subsidised theatre tickets to local people.[10]
In March 2017, following a landmark year of taking plays into the communities of West London, the Bush Theatre will return home following a £4.3m revitalisation of the venue. The year-long redevelopment was driven by the aim of realising Artistic Director Madani Younis’ vision for a theatre that reflected the diversity and vibrancy of London. Upon reopening, the building will be more sustainable and entirely accessible, with a new entrance, front-of-house area and exterior garden terrace to the main street.
Venue
Following the 2016/17 redevelopment, the Bush Theatre now has two performance spaces:
The Theatre, which is a reserved seating venue with a maximum capacity of 180. It has remained in its original location and can be configured in a thrust, end on or in the round layout.
The Studio, is an unreserved seating venue with a maximum capacity of 70 and is a home for emerging artists and producers. Similarly, this space can be configured in a thrust, end on or in the round layout.
The building also contains an Attic rehearsal space and Writer's Room, along with a Café Bar, garden terrace and playtext library, which is the largest public theatre reference library in the United Kingdom.
New writing
The Literary Department at the Bush Theatre is committed to discovering the best new plays from playwrights from the widest range of backgrounds and therefore seek unsolicited submissions throughout the year in dedicated script windows. The Bush is a proud champion of playwrights with a keen interest in those voices not often heard and reflecting the contemporary culture of London, the UK and beyond. The Department receives nearly 2000 scripts a year from new and established playwrights all of which are read and considered for production or development at the Bush.[11]
The Bush Theatre look for exciting new voices that tell contemporary stories with wit, style and passion and have produced hundreds of ground-breaking premieres since its inception in 1972, many of them Bush Theatre commissions, and hosted guest productions by leading companies and artists from across the world. The Bush has won over 100 awards, and developed an enviable reputation for touring its acclaimed productions nationally and internationally.
To celebrate 40 years of the Bush Theatre, "Close-Up Magic": 40 Years at the Bush Theatre[30] was published, charting the history of the theatre and including contributions from past directors, actors, writers and audience members.
Productions
Selected past productions
This is a list of selected productions of the Bush Theatre:[31]
^"Snookered", Bush Theatre, 2012, archived from the original on 29 February 2012 ((citation)): Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^"Chalet Lines", Bush Theatre, 2012, archived from the original on 25 March 2012 ((citation)): Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^"The Beloved", Bush Theatre, 2012, archived from the original on 25 March 2012 ((citation)): Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^"Fear", Bush Theatre, 2012, archived from the original on 25 March 2012 ((citation)): Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^"Our New Girl", Bush Theatre Archive, 2012, archived from the original on 5 February 2012 ((citation)): Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^"The Kitchen Sink", Bush Theatre Archive, 2011, archived from the original on 29 December 2011 ((citation)): Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^"Where's My Seat", Bush Theatre Archive, 2011, archived from the original on 17 August 2012 ((citation)): Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^"In The Beginning", Bush Theatre Archive, 2011, archived from the original on 21 June 2012 ((citation)): Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^"Moment", Bush Theatre Archive, 2011, archived from the original on 4 July 2011 ((citation)): Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^"Little Platoons", Bush Theatre Archive, 2011, archived from the original on 22 January 2011 ((citation)): Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^"The Knowledge", Bush Theatre Archive, 2011, archived from the original on 24 January 2011 ((citation)): Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^"The Aliens", Bush Theatre Archive, 2010, archived from the original on 4 July 2011 ((citation)): Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^"Like A Fishbone", Bush Theatre Archive, 2010, archived from the original on 21 April 2010 ((citation)): Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^"A Little Gem", Bush Theatre Archive, 2010, archived from the original on 25 May 2010 ((citation)): Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^"Eigengrau", Bush Theatre Archive, 2010, archived from the original on 21 August 2011 ((citation)): Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^"Sea Wall", Bush Theatre Archive, 2009, archived from the original on 6 February 2012 ((citation)): Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^"2nd May 1997", Bush Theatre Archive, 2009, archived from the original on 16 July 2011 ((citation)): Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^"Apologia", Bush Theatre Archive, 2009, archived from the original on 5 November 2013 ((citation)): Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^"2,000 Feet Away", Bush Theatre Archive, 2008, archived from the original on 5 November 2013 ((citation)): Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^"Tinderbox", Bush Theatre Archive, 2008, archived from the original on 5 November 2013 ((citation)): Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^"How To Curse", Bush Theatre Archive, 2007, archived from the original on 5 November 2013 ((citation)): Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^"Tom Fool", Bush Theatre Archive, 2007, archived from the original on 4 July 2011 ((citation)): Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^"When You Cure Me", Bush Theatre Archive, 2005, archived from the original on 16 July 2011 ((citation)): Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^"Take Me Away", Bush Theatre Archive, 2005, archived from the original on 4 July 2011 ((citation)): Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^"One Minute", Bush Theatre Archive, 2004, archived from the original on 7 July 2013 ((citation)): Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^"Christmas", Bush Theatre Archive, 2004, archived from the original on 11 January 2012 ((citation)): Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^"Disco Pigs", Bush Theatre Archive, 1997, archived from the original on 19 April 2011 ((citation)): Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^"St Nicholas", Bush Theatre Archive, 1997, archived from the original on 4 July 2011 ((citation)): Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)