This venue’s urgent response to the killing of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter campaign is powerfully realised.
‘This is our humanity. And sheer genius’ – Andrew Scott in SEA WALL
Lockdown occasionally spawns some real delights. Like the surprise appearance of a strange creature from the profoundest depths. One of these must be Andrew Scott’s superb performance in Simon Stephens’s Sea Wall.
‘Delivered with an unrelenting energy’: COLLAPSIBLE – Bush Theatre
Breffni Holahan delivers Margaret Perry’s script for Collapsible with an unrelenting energy that starts high and reaches stratospheric levels.
‘Smart & completely absorbing’: COLLAPSIBLE – Bush Theatre ★★★★
Collapsible is a one woman monologue by Margaret Perry exploring anxiety and mental health in the face of a modern and overwhelming world.
NEWS: Bush Theatre celebrates the transfer of Baby Reindeer to the West End & New York
The award-winning Edinburgh Festival Fringe hit Baby Reindeer follows a sold-out season at the Bush last year by transferring to the West End’s Ambassadors Theatre from 2 April 2020 (press night is 6 April). The production then moves to BAM’s Fishman Space in New York from 21 May.
‘An excellent debut play brought flawlessly to life’: I WANNA BE YOURS – Bush Theatre
I Wanna Be Yours at the Bush Theatre speaks to younger and older people navigating an unjust world, and reminds the privileged among us of the constant learning we have to do.
‘Great stuff excellently performed’: THE ARRIVAL – Bush Theatre
Director Bijan Sheibani turns playwright in a fine two-hander about family and the crisis of masculinity in The Arrival at the Bush Theatre.
Text of the Day: Baby Reindeer
Random and topical thoughts and quotes gathered by My Theatre Mates contributor Aleks Sierz, first published on www.sierz.co.uk.
Best of the Blogs: The Mates give their verdicts on Noises Off, Translations, [Blank], The Girl Who Fell, Tickle The Musical & more
In our continuing series, our editor Lisa Martland picks out some of her Top Picks from the last week of theatre (to 20 October 2019), ranging from Olivia Mitchell’s thigh-slapping joy on seeing Noises Off to Libby Purves’ plea that we listen to the story being told in [Blank] at the Donmar Warehouse.
‘Writes with poetic vigour & concision’: A HISTORY OF WATER IN THE MIDDLE EAST – Royal Court Theatre
Sabrina Mahfouz’s feminist account of British imperialism in A History of Water in the Middle East is energetic and passionate but also turns out to be a very slender piece of theatre.
‘Enormous passion & frightening intensity’: BABY REINDEER – Bush Theatre
Baby Reindeer at the Bush Theatre, stand-up comedian Richard Gadd’s provocative one-man show about a stalker and complicit victimhood, is darkly exciting.
‘Vital & vibrant contribution to contemporary theatre’: CHIAROSCURO – Bush Theatre
Chiaroscuro is a relevant, moving production, addressing issues of sexuality and identity & focusing on characters that are often left out of theatrical narratives. It is a vital and vibrant contribution to contemporary theatre.
Text Of The Day: Chiaroscuro
Random and topical thoughts and quotes gathered by My Theatre Mates contributor Aleks Sierz, first published on www.sierz.co.uk.
‘Bright, warm & occasionally wonderfully joyous’: CHIAROSCURO – Bush Theatre
Lively gig theatre revival of Jackie Kay’s Chiaroscuroa, a 1980s account of the black lesbian experience doesn’t quite work.
‘Extremely empowering piece’: CHIAROSCURO – Bush Theatre ★★★★★
Lynette Linton brings together this story in a beautiful and explosive manner through her direction of Chiaroscuro.
‘Fabulous, challenging theatre’: RUST – Bush Theatre ★★★★
Bush Theatre follows its trend of programming interesting and challenging work, as Rust provides an exciting 75 minutes of raw emotion.
‘Its ideas are lively & thought-provoking’: RUST – Bush Theatre
New play Rust at the Bush, about an extramarital affair, is short but emotionally truthful and invigorating.
NEWS: Lynette Linton’s inaugural Bush Theatre season includes six UK debuts
Lynette Linton has announced her inaugural season as Artistic Director of the Bush Theatre. The 2019-2020 season includes UK debut plays from six playwrights alongside a new production of celebrated poet and playwright Jackie Kay’s first play Chiaroscuro directed by Linton.
Text of the Day: Strange Fruit
Random and topical thoughts and quotes gathered by My Theatre Mates contributor Aleks Sierz, first published on www.sierz.co.uk.
‘A fine production of a play that still feels vital’: STRANGE FRUIT – Bush Theatre
Strange Fruit is a complex, dense play that is beautifully played by a talented ensemble and thoughtfully directed by Nancy Medina.