Conversations, dispatches and ideas from the Bush Theatre.

Charles Holloway OBE: From West London to the West End

Thu 31 Oct 2024 | Uncategorized

Benedict Lombe’s play Shifters transferring from the Bush Theatre to the West End was a milestone moment: for the artists involved, the audiences they engaged, and the future of British theatre it will inspire. It offers a glimpse of what commercial theatre in this country could be. And as Bush audience members and supporters know,…

Shifting the Narrative: Radical Love Commissions

Wed 28 Aug 2024 | Our Plays, Playwriting

A new initiative, inviting eight Global Majority artists to write short-form responses to the West End production of Benedict Lombe’s hit play Shifters, which is at the Duke of York’s Theatre, London, until 12 October. We’re delighted to be launching this new opportunity, alongside ATG Entertainment West End Creative Learning and the Producers of Shifters.…

Call out: tell us what you thought of Shifters

Wed 03 Jul 2024 | Our Plays

Did you see Shifters at the Bush? We need you! To celebrate the West End transfer of Benedict Lombe’s hit play, we’re asking audiences to help us spread the word. We’d love you to send in a short video of your thoughts, experiences and takeaway’s from the world premiere run at the Bush Theatre earlier…

#BushPlays: £2 playtexts from our back catalogue

Wed 16 Aug 2017 | Our Plays

Choose from a diverse selection of contemporary plays for some holiday reading or to salve your post-Edinburgh blues.

Beautiful New Writing On Offer

To celebrate August – one of the busiest months for new writing – we’re offering a number of amazing plays from our back catalogue for £2. This one off, Summer special is for the following texts:

The Herd by Rory Kinnear. A witty and heartfelt look at family life when it doesn’t turn out quite the way you imagined.
Pumpgirl by Abbie Spallen. An explosively comic play that takes us deep into the unspoken thoughts and darkest desires of three lives destined to collide.
Little Platoons by Steve Waters. Moving from satiric comedy to poignant family drama, it asks why we’re all so obsessed with education and what happens when we get what we wish for.
Disgraced by Ayad Akhtar. Corporate lawyer Amir Kapoor is happy, in love and about to land the biggest career promotion of his life.But beneath the veneer, success has come at a price.
Straight by DC Moore. In the middle of a drunken night out, best friends Lewis and Waldorf, make a bet that will take their friendship to whole new level.
F*ck the Polar Bears by Tanya Ronder. A raucous play about a family who have the world at their feet. But behind their perfect front door, light bulbs are blowing, the drains keep blocking, and a phone inexplicably refuses to charge.
My Romantic History by DC Jackson. When Tom and Amy get together after an office social, they find themselves living in each other’s pockets. But it’s not their lack of chemistry that’s the problem: it’s that neither can quite get over their childhood sweethearts.
Kingfisher Blue by Lin Coghlan. An urban tale of stuffed weasels, avocado sandwiches and dreams of escape.

History of the Bush Theatre

Plus find out about the history of the Bush which kickstarted the careers of Alan Rickman, Victoria Wood and Andrew Scott. Close Up Magic has exclusive interviews, backstage stories, Bush puns aplenty and the history of political new writing that the Bush is famous is. Get Close Up Magic for just £5.00.

To find out more about our playtexts or to purchase one, check out our Shop.

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