Bush Theatre

The Bush Theatre is located in the Passmore Edwards Public Library, Shepherd's Bush, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. It was established in 1972 as a showcase for the work of new writers. The Bush Theatre strives to create a space which nurtures and develops 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 Theatre has produced hundreds of premieres, many of them Bush Theatre commissions, and hosted guest productions by theatre companies and artists from across the world.

Bush Theatre
AddressShepherd's Bush
London, W12
United Kingdom
Coordinates51.5052°N 0.2259°W / 51.5052; -0.2259
Public transit Shepherd's Bush Market
Shepherd's Bush
OwnerAlternative Theatre Company
TypeTheatre
CapacityTheatre: 180 seats
Studio: 70 seats
ProductionSeasons of guest and commissioned productions
Opened6 April 1972 (6 April 1972)
Website
bushtheatre.co.uk

Artistic Directors

History
The Bush Theatre's original home (2005)

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.[7] The venue, despite its fame and massive output, was intimate, with 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 Beast in 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 former Passmore Edwards Public Library building, round the corner from its first home, on Uxbridge Road.[8]

The relocation took place in 2011 and the new venue opened with the "Sixty-Six Books" project.[9] This was a celebration of the anniversary of the publication of the King James Bible, which used 66 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, he 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.[10] 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.[11]

In March 2017, following a landmark year of taking plays into the communities of West London, the Bush Theatre returned home following a £4.3m revitalisation of the venue. The year-long redevelopment was driven by the aim of realising Younis’ vision for a theatre that reflected the diversity and vibrancy of London. Upon reopening, the building was to be more sustainable and entirely accessible, with a new entrance, front-of-house area and exterior garden terrace to the main street.

Lynette Linton became Artistic Directory in January 2019, following Younis' appointment as Creative Director at the Southbank Centre.[6]

The Bush Theatre's 2013 production of Pulitzer Prize for Drama winner Disgraced by Ayad Akhtar

Venue

Following the 2016/17 redevelopment, the Bush Theatre has two performance spaces:

  • The Theatre, 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, an unreserved seating venue with a maximum capacity of 70, 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.[12]

Awards

1977 – George Devine Award to Robert Holman for German Skerries[13]
1979 – George Devine Award to Jonathan Gems for The Tax Exile
1982 – Samuel Beckett Award for Coming Clean by Kevin Elyot[14]
1986 – Laurence Olivier Award Nomination for Outstanding Achievement to Robert Holman for Making Noises Quietly[15]
1989 – John Whiting Award for Handful of Stars by Billy Roche[16]
1993 – Laurence Olivier Award Nomination for Outstanding Achievement to Billy Roche for The Wexford Trilogy[17]
1993 – Susan Smith Blackburn Award to Jane Coles for Backstroke In A Crowded Pool[18]
1993 – John Whiting Award for The Clearing by Helen Edmundson[19]
1994 – John Whiting Award for Beautiful Thing by Jonathan Harvey[20]
1995 – Laurence Olivier Award Nomination for Beautiful Thing by Jonathan Harvey[21]
1996 – Susan Smith Blackburn Award to Naomi Wallace for One Flea Spare[22]
1997 – Meyer-Whitworth Award to Conor McPherson for This Lime Tree Bower[23]
1998 – George Devine Award to Helen Blakeman for Caravan[24]
1998 – Meyer-Whitworth Award to Daragh Carville for Language Roulette[23]
1999 – George Devine Award to Mark O'Rowe for Howie the Rookie[25]
2005 – Meyer-Whitworth Award to Stephen Thompson for Damages[26]
2006 – Susan Smith Blackburn Award to Amelia Bullmore for Mammals[27]
2007 – Susan Smith Blackburn Award to Abbie Spallen for Pumpgirl[28]
2013 – Pulitzer Prize for Disgraced by Ayad Akhtar[29]

Books

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

A list of selected productions of the Bush Theatre.[31]

Bibliography
  • Burkey, Neil (2011). "Close-Up Magic": 40 Years at the Bush Theatre. Google Books. London: Profile Books Limited. ISBN 978-1906-50765-7.
gollark: I suddenly realised that I have about 50 tabs open. Oops.
gollark: Why?
gollark: Should I become particularly interested in a CC server, I'll be sure to join, as airwaves is quite boring.
gollark: I can't see that working very well.
gollark: (CC + peripherals + decorative mods is basically CC-only)

References
  1. "Jenny Topper and Nicky Pallot", 40 Years of Close Up Magic
  2. "Interview with Mike Bradwell", The British Theatre Guide, archived from the original on 4 March 2016, retrieved 23 February 2012
  3. "Josie Rourke New Artistic Director", The Stage
  4. "Bush names new artistic director". BBC News: Entertainment. 7 July 2011. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  5. Williams, Holly (26 November 2018). "Madani Younis on changing the Bush Theatre and proving critics wrong". Evening Standard. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  6. Paskett, Zoe (14 November 2018). "Lynette Linton announced as new artistic director of the Bush Theatre". Evening Standard. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  7. "Brian McDermott", The Times (obituary)
  8. "Bush Theatre finds new home", OfficialLondonTheatre.com
  9. "24 Hour Events", Sixty-Six Books Archived 17 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Bush Theatre.
  10. "Bush Theatre to open new studio space after redevelopment". The Stage. 23 February 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  11. "Bush Theatre welcomes new audiences with free tickets". LBHF. 12 September 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  12. "BushGreen", Bush Theatre
  13. "German Skerries | Reading Rep Theatre | West Berkshire". www.readingrep.com. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  14. "Nick Hern Books – Coming Clean". www.nickhernbooks.co.uk. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  15. "Olivier Winners 1986". www.olivierawards.com. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  16. "A Handful of Stars | Billy Roche | Largest Collection of Plays and Musicals in the World". www.stageplays.com. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  17. "Olivier Winners 1993". www.olivierawards.com. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  18. "The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize – 1990's". www.blackburnprize.org. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  19. Able, Sane and. "Helen Edmundson – The Agency". The Agency. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  20. Bloomsbury.com. "Bloomsbury – Jonathan Harvey – Jonathan Harvey". www.bloomsbury.com. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  21. "Olivier Winners 1995". www.olivierawards.com. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  22. "Naomi Wallace | Knight Hall Agency". www.knighthallagency.com. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  23. "Playwrights' Studio, Scotland | ProjectsPlaywrights' Studio, Scotland | Awards". www.playwrightsstudio.co.uk. Archived from the original on 1 January 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  24. Able, Sane and. "Helen Blakeman – The Agency". The Agency. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  25. "Literature Ireland | Mark O'Rowe". www.literatureireland.com. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  26. "Damages author Thompson wins Whitworth writing prize | News | The Stage". The Stage. 6 December 2005. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  27. "Amelia Bullmore | United Agents". www.unitedagents.co.uk. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  28. "The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize – 2000's". www.blackburnprize.org. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  29. "Disgraced, by Ayad Akhtar". www.pulitzer.org. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  30. Burkey, Neil (2011). "Close-Up Magic": 40 Years at the Bush Theatre. Google Books. London: Profile Books Limited. ISBN 978-1906-50765-7.
  31. "Past productions". www.bushtheatre.co.uk.
  32. "Dismantle Festival". www.bushtheatre.co.uk. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  33. "Hijabi Monologues London". www.bushtheatre.co.uk. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  34. "Snookered", Bush Theatre, 2012, archived from the original on 29 February 2012
  35. "Chalet Lines", Bush Theatre, 2012, archived from the original on 25 March 2012
  36. "The Beloved", Bush Theatre, 2012, archived from the original on 25 March 2012
  37. "Mad About The Boy", Bush Theatre, 2012, archived from the original on 24 February 2012
  38. "Fear", Bush Theatre, 2012, archived from the original on 25 March 2012
  39. "Our New Girl", Bush Theatre Archive, 2012, archived from the original on 5 February 2012
  40. "The Kitchen Sink", Bush Theatre Archive, 2011, archived from the original on 29 December 2011
  41. "Sixty-Six Books", Bush Theatre Archive, 2011
  42. "This is where we got to when you came in", Bush Theatre Archive, 2011, archived from the original on 16 January 2012
  43. "Where's My Seat", Bush Theatre Archive, 2011, archived from the original on 17 August 2012
  44. "In The Beginning", Bush Theatre Archive, 2011, archived from the original on 21 June 2012
  45. "Moment", Bush Theatre Archive, 2011, archived from the original on 4 July 2011
  46. "Little Platoons", Bush Theatre Archive, 2011, archived from the original on 22 January 2011
  47. "The Knowledge", Bush Theatre Archive, 2011, archived from the original on 24 January 2011
  48. "My Romantic History", Bush Theatre Archive, 2010, archived from the original on 4 July 2011
  49. "The Aliens", Bush Theatre Archive, 2010, archived from the original on 4 July 2011
  50. "The Great British Country Fete", Bush Theatre Archive, 2010, archived from the original on 30 December 2011
  51. "Like A Fishbone", Bush Theatre Archive, 2010, archived from the original on 21 April 2010
  52. "A Little Gem", Bush Theatre Archive, 2010, archived from the original on 25 May 2010
  53. "Eigengrau", Bush Theatre Archive, 2010, archived from the original on 21 August 2011
  54. "The Whisky Taster", Bush Theatre Archive, 2010, archived from the original on 24 April 2012
  55. "The Contingency Plan", Bush Theatre Archive, 2009, archived from the original on 19 February 2012
  56. "The Stefan Golazewski Plays", Bush Theatre Archive, 2009, archived from the original on 14 December 2012
  57. "If There Is I Haven't Found It Yet", Bush Theatre Archive, 2009, archived from the original on 5 March 2010
  58. "Sea Wall", Bush Theatre Archive, 2009, archived from the original on 6 February 2012
  59. "2nd May 1997", Bush Theatre Archive, 2009, archived from the original on 16 July 2011
  60. "suddenlossdinity.com", Bush Theatre Archive, 2009, archived from the original on 11 September 2010
  61. "Apologia", Bush Theatre Archive, 2009, archived from the original on 5 November 2013
  62. "Stovepipe", Bush Theatre Archive, 2009, archived from the original on 19 April 2013
  63. "Wrecks", Bush Theatre Archive, 2009, archived from the original on 19 April 2013
  64. "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover At Christmas", Bush Theatre Archive, 2008, archived from the original on 16 June 2009
  65. "I Caught Crabs in walberwsick", Bush Theatre Archive, 2008, archived from the original on 23 March 2012
  66. "Broken Space Season", Bush Theatre Archive, 2008, archived from the original on 22 April 2012
  67. "Turf", Bush Theatre Archive, 2008, archived from the original on 19 April 2013
  68. "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover", Bush Theatre Archive, 2008, archived from the original on 18 November 2011
  69. "2,000 Feet Away", Bush Theatre Archive, 2008, archived from the original on 5 November 2013
  70. "Tinderbox", Bush Theatre Archive, 2008, archived from the original on 5 November 2013
  71. "Artefacts", Bush Theatre Archive, 2008, archived from the original on 20 April 2013
  72. "Helter Skelter/Land of the Dead", Bush Theatre Archive, 2008, archived from the original on 20 April 2013
  73. "tHe dYsFUnCKshOnalZ!", Bush Theatre Archive, 2007, archived from the original on 4 July 2011
  74. "How To Curse", Bush Theatre Archive, 2007, archived from the original on 5 November 2013
  75. "Flight Path", Bush Theatre Archive, 2007, archived from the original on 20 April 2013
  76. "Trance", Bush Theatre Archive, 2007, archived from the original on 19 April 2013
  77. "Elling", Bush Theatre Archive, 2007, archived from the original on 19 April 2013
  78. "Tom Fool", Bush Theatre Archive, 2007, archived from the original on 4 July 2011
  79. "I Like Mine With a Kiss", Bush Theatre Archive, 2007, archived from the original on 20 April 2013
  80. "Product: World Remix", Bush Theatre Archive, 2007, archived from the original on 20 April 2013
  81. "What Would Judas Do", Bush Theatre Archive, 2007, archived from the original on 19 April 2013
  82. "Whipping It Up", Bush Theatre Archive, 2006, archived from the original on 22 April 2013
  83. "Bones", Bush Theatre Archive, 2006, archived from the original on 20 April 2013
  84. "Pumpgirl", Bush Theatre Archive, 2006, archived from the original on 20 April 2013
  85. "Cruising", Bush Theatre Archive, 2006, archived from the original on 19 April 2013
  86. "Crooked", Bush Theatre Archive, 2006, archived from the original on 20 April 2013
  87. "Trad", Bush Theatre Archive, 2006, archived from the original on 20 April 2013
  88. "Christmas Is Miles Away", Bush Theatre Archive, 2006, archived from the original on 19 April 2013
  89. "Try These On For International Size", Bush Theatre Archive, 2006, archived from the original on 20 April 2013
  90. "Monsieur Ibrahim and the Flowers Of The Qur'an", Bush Theatre Archive, 2006, archived from the original on 19 April 2013
  91. "When You Cure Me", Bush Theatre Archive, 2005, archived from the original on 16 July 2011
  92. "Bottle Universe", Bush Theatre Archive, 2005
  93. "After the End", Bush Theatre Archive, 2005, archived from the original on 20 April 2013
  94. "The Obituary Show", Bush Theatre Archive, 2005, archived from the original on 4 July 2011
  95. "Kingfisher Blue", Bush Theatre Archive, 2005, archived from the original on 19 April 2013
  96. "Mammals", Bush Theatre Archive, 2005, archived from the original on 19 April 2013
  97. "Take Me Away", Bush Theatre Archive, 2005, archived from the original on 4 July 2011
  98. "Bites", Bush Theatre Archive, 2005, archived from the original on 19 April 2013
  99. "Going Donkeys", Bush Theatre Archive, 2004, archived from the original on 20 April 2013
  100. "How Love Is Spelt", Bush Theatre Archive, 2004, archived from the original on 19 April 2013
  101. "Damages", Bush Theatre Archive, 2004, archived from the original on 20 April 2013
  102. "Adrenalin...Heart", Bush Theatre Archive, 2004, archived from the original on 20 April 2013
  103. "One Minute", Bush Theatre Archive, 2004, archived from the original on 7 July 2013
  104. "Christmas", Bush Theatre Archive, 2004, archived from the original on 11 January 2012
  105. "The God Botherers", Bush Theatre Archive, 2003, archived from the original on 9 June 2012
  106. "Airsick", Bush Theatre Archive, 2003, archived from the original on 19 April 2013
  107. "Nine Parts of Desire", Bush Theatre Archive, 2003, archived from the original on 20 April 2013
  108. "Little Baby Nothing", Bush Theatre Archive, 2003, archived from the original on 11 June 2013
  109. "Disco Pigs", Bush Theatre Archive, 1997, archived from the original on 19 April 2011
  110. "Love and Understanding", Bush Theatre Archive, 2003, archived from the original on 5 April 2012
  111. "St Nicholas", Bush Theatre Archive, 1997, archived from the original on 4 July 2011
  112. "All of You Mine", Bush Theatre Archive, 1997, archived from the original on 19 April 2013
  113. "Dreams of San Francisco", Bush Theatre Archive, 1987, archived from the original on 20 April 2013
  114. "Tattoo Theatre", Bush Theatre Archive, 1987, archived from the original on 19 April 2013
  115. "The Mystery of the Rose Bouquet", Bush Theatre Archive, 1987, archived from the original on 20 April 2013
  116. "Effies Burning", Bush Theatre Archive, 1987, archived from the original on 20 April 2013
  117. "People Show No 92 Whistle Stop", Bush Theatre Archive, 1987, archived from the original on 19 April 2013
  118. "Love Field", Bush Theatre Archive, 1987
  119. "More Light", Bush Theatre Archive, 1987, archived from the original on 19 April 2013
  120. "An Imitation of Life", Bush Theatre Archive, 1987, archived from the original on 20 April 2013
  121. "The Oven Glove Murders", Bush Theatre Archive, 1986, archived from the original on 20 April 2013
  122. "Making Noise Quietly", Bush Theatre Archive, 1986, archived from the original on 19 April 2013
  123. "Hard Feelings", Bush Theatre Archive, 1983, archived from the original on 20 April 2013
  124. "The Relief of Martha King", Bush Theatre Archive, 1972, archived from the original on 19 April 2013
  125. "Christmas Carol", Bush Theatre Archive, 1972, archived from the original on 20 April 2013
  126. "Plays for Rubber Gogo", Bush Theatre Archive, 1972, archived from the original on 19 April 2013
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