Bush Theatre Archives - North West End UK

27May

By Jennifer LaishleyNo Comments

London

Invisible – Bush Theatre

Invisible by Nikhil Parmar is a one man show centring on the life of Zayan. The play explores what leads Zayan to feel invisible, as he is outcast by his loved ones and wider society. Nikhil has crafted a piece of theatre that deals with racism, Islamophobia in a powerful and thought-provoking way. Zayan is a struggling actor who is trying to navigate co-parenting with his ex’s new partner. In the play, Nikhil takes the audience through a series of events that lead Zayan to having destructive violent thoughts. It’s easy to see how small moments can build up and have dire consequences. Zayan is also grappling with the death of his sister. Nikhil is a captivating performer and holds the space and audience’s attention throughout the piece. Nikhil quickly sets the tone of the piece a...

8May

By Riana HowarthNo Comments

London

August in England – Bush Theatre

Lenny Henry captivates in this bittersweet tale about a man whose life is turned upside down by the Windrush scandal. It is surprising to find out that this is the first play he has written as the language and events flow sinuously and the script is imbued with a strong sense of August Henderson’s character with funny, quirky details. August’s journey is an eclectic one from Kingston Jamaica to Calypso Crescent in an emphatically ghastly Peckham and then to West Brom. This no doubt reflects aspects of Henry’s own life and those he knows, having parents who emigrated to Britain from Jamaica and brought him up in Dudley. The story begins with the family’s move and then cleverly branches into August’s life, starting a zealous band-cum-rebel group called Black Fist and later launching I...

10Mar

By Zara OdetundeNo Comments

London

Sleepova – Bush Theatre

Sleepova written by Matilda Feyiṣayọ Ibini, is a celebration of black girlhood as a quartet of friends transition into their adult lives. We start in the months before their GCSE exams at the first sleepover of a group of four best friends. To celebrate Shan’s 16th birthday the girl’s share gossip, eat popcorn and explore their fears for their changing lives and their current struggles. Through their subsequent sleepovers, Ibini discusses issues like religion, grief, sexuality, maturing into adulthood and the struggles of living with chronic illness. Each of the characters had a distinctive flair and the quartet is bursting with chemistry, that you would believe they had been friends since childhood. Although 3 out of the four actresses are making their stage debut, you ...

<strong>Paradise Now! – Bush Theatre</strong>

14Dec

By Riana HowarthNo Comments

London

Paradise Now! – Bush Theatre

Paradise Now! reflects the growing empowerment of women in our society, showing both unity and darker, more toxic aspects. The play begins in Gabriel and her sister’s living room, showing a stark contrast between Gabriel’s depression induced exhaustion and Baby’s post work fatigue. When Gabriel meets Alex who sells essential oils for a company called Paradise, her life is given a new sense of purpose. The two go on to recruit more members of the team, we meet Rose and Laurie. All driven by money and success, they repeat the same spiel about connecting to your inner goddess to drive sales. Some climb up the ladder and others struggle, as they eventually reveal hidden truths about themselves in an intense team building workshop. Shazia Nicholl plays Alex, the forcefully ambitious lead...

16Sep

By Riana HowarthNo Comments

London

The P Word – Bush Theatre

Waleed Akhtar’s new play is sharp as it combines the warmth of friendship with the brutal reality of life as a refugee in the UK. The story follows two gay Pakistani men as we watch their lives unfold in London. Zafar is seeking asylum, fleeing from the danger he would face as a gay man in Pakistan. He attends counselling sessions and lives in a constant state of unrest as he waits to hear about his application. Bilal, who goes by the name Billy, has been brought up in London and as he enters the stage, we are given the lowdown on his Grindr status. The pacing is gentle and gradual as the parallels between their lives are established, assisted by Max Johns’ minimalistic stage design; it is a rotating circle platform split in two. Each character sticks to his own side of the circle, whi...

2Jul

By Alice RoseNo Comments

London

Favour – Bush Theatre

A traditional Muslim family are awaiting the return of Aleena (Avita Jay), mother to Leila (Ashna Rabheru) who went to prison two years ago and with her release is returning to Grandma Noor’s home (Renu Brindle). A generational family drama, we see Leila tackle her anxiety to keep her returning mother happy and avoid her downfall in her depression again whilst tackling her grandmother’s expectations and traditions that she has kept to on a tight schedule. With a very comedic performance from Neighbour Fozia (Rina Fatania) who gossips her way through the family, shunning certain members out of weddings until eventually the karma is thrown right back. An emotional, hilarious drama that presents very real family environment damaged by betrayal and selected loyalty. Photo: Suzi Corker W...

5May

By Alice RoseNo Comments

London

House of Ife – Bush Theatre

House of Ife follows a family repairing from the tragedy of losing a son, as the house reduces from 4 children to 3 the wounds that are desperate to heal remain open from the secrets buried around Ife’s death and the reason for his devastating path. Closing in around them are 4 walls, opened for view with bright saturated colours and a small amount of possessions. Books fill a small shelf although the only book referenced is the Bible, as the children reminisce on growing up with their dad who now lives in Ethiopia with his second wife and second family. We begin at the funeral, decorating the house as three children are set with the task to make it appropriate. Immediately we cut through the tragedy with the lightness and humour of grieving someone they knew would have wanted light an...

23Feb

By Riana HowarthNo Comments

London

Red Pitch – Bush Theatre

This is an electrifying piece of theatre with a strong sense of community at its core. From the moment you enter the performance space, it is buzzing as the boys bounce around the stage, preparing for a match. You are plunged into their territory from the get-go and feel drunk on their energy and enthusiasm. Omz, Joey and Bilal navigate their worlds of South London as 16-year-old boys at an exciting, pivotal point in their lives. The play is a testament to the strength of friendship and the trials and tribulations of youth as well as an exploration of gentrification from the differing perspectives of these young people. This outstanding play-writing debut by Tyrell Williams is a masterclass in comedy and authenticity. Williams truly captures the spirit of banterous teenage boys on the ...

10Dec

By Gaurav SinghNo Comments

London

Fair Play – Bush Theatre

Ella Road's new play 'Fair Play' offers an incisive look into the world of women's athletics and the lives of those who inhabit it. Premiering at the Bush Theatre, the show invites the audience to glimpse into the pressures and anxieties that these athletes deal with, having to contend with never-ending public scrutiny and judgement passed on their bodies, lifestyles and choices, on the track field and outside. Directed by Monique Touko and designed by Naomi Dawson, there is a searing rhythm to the evening that doesn’t let us look away for even a second. The play opens with Ann (Nick King), a young Black girl who has joined a local running club in London. Here, she meets Sophie (Charlotte Beaumont) has been training for a while. Both these young girls are short-distance runners in trai...

30Nov

By Gaurav SinghNo Comments

London

Old Bridge – Bush Theatre

British-Bosnian writer Igor Memic's debut play 'Old Bridge' seeks to shine a light on the on the armed conflict that took place in present-day Bosnia and Herzegovina between 1992 and 1995. Winner of the 2020 Papatango New Writing Prize, Memic situates the narrative around the Stari Most (also known as Mostar Bridge and Old Bridge), a 16th-century bridge in the city of Mostar that was destroyed during the conflict. The play is an intimately layered exploration of love, religion and identity during war and follows a group of friends whose lives get relentlessly entangled in the fallout. This production at the Bush Theatre is directed by Selma Dimitrijevic and designed by Oli Townsend, with Amela Beha as cultural advisor and George Turvey as dramaturg. The play opens at the site of the 'O...