Conversations, dispatches and ideas from the Bush Theatre.
This year we’re excited to be working with theatre company Look Left Look Right to make an original piece of work with contributors and cast members from the local community.
It’s called The Neighbourhood Project. Read on for the story so far from our Community Assistant, Sophie Nurse.
I joined the Bush as the Community Assistant to work alongside the brilliant Community Producer Amanda to help run projects such as this – that seek to closely involve the residents of the local area in the work the theatre does. I’ve been assisting on Saturday morning workshops and we’re making huge creative strides towards the show we’re devising together.
Look Left Look Right who are leading the workshops, specialise in making performances that are site-specific (performed in non-traditional theatre venues) and that take their inspiration from the lives of real people. Their shows have truth at the very heart of what they explore and so are the perfect partner to bring the stories of our Shepheard’s Bush community company to life.
On an ordinary workshop day, after some hellos, how are yous, cups of tea and biscuits, we start work. We play games, debate our different viewpoints and test out ideas creatively and theatrically as a means to exploring what we want the message of our piece to become. The focus of the show is the true stories of the people from the local area, so sessions change every week as we learn more about each other’s lives. So far we’ve shared stories, danced, made arts installations, explored poetry and even steered people in blindfolds across obstacle courses!
The highlight of the project for me, is the wonderful mix of people who have come forward to share their thoughts, ideas and experiences. I’ve met such a variety of local people I never would have had the pleasure to meet otherwise. With much more to come, it’s lovely to feel that we’re collaborating to make something that will distinctively represent this exciting and vibrant area of London! Each person brings their different character, energy and imagination to the group which means we have so many different ideas and directions we could pursue, who knows where the next workshop will lead…
Keep your eyes peeled for more information about the performances of our show in May, and find out more about the project, including how to get involved here.
