The Bush Theatre and Sipsmith are delighted to present an exclusive, script in hand reading of THE CHAPEL OF UNREST. Written by Screenwriter Stephen Volk (The Awakening), this once in a lifetime performance stars one of the Bush Theatre’s finest alumni and is directed by our Artistic Director Madani Younis.
With a sensational return to the stage, Academy Award winner and British film legend Jim Broadbent (Cloud Atlas, The Iron Lady, Iris) stars in this not to be missed, spell binding ghost story. Joining Jim will be actor, writer and comedian Reece Shearsmith who is well known for his roles in The League of Gentlemen and Psychoville. Reece has also enjoyed success on stage starring in The Producers, Betty Blue Eyes and most recently, Absent Friends.
Ghosts do not go away. Sometimes they are seen, and sometimes merely felt. This man knew about death. But worse — far worse – he knew the limits of death, and what things lie beyond…
This is the chilling tale of undertaker Charlie Nimrod and the day he meets George Arbuthnot to bring his daughter’s lifeless body to rest.
Includes a pre-show drink and post show entertainment
This is a fundraising event for the Bush Theatre.
Madani took over as Artistic Director of the Bush Theatre in 2012. He directed the critically acclaimed UK premiere of The Royale in 2015 which was revived in 2016. In 2013 he won the Groucho Club Maverick Award for the theatre, following the most successful season in the theatre’s history which played to 99% capacity. Also for the Bush Theatre he has directed The Principles of Cartography as part of Black Lives, Black Words, Zaida and Aadam as part of This Place We Know, Perseverance Drive and Chalet Lines.
Madani is currently working as a member of the Mayor of London’s Cultural Board.
Prior to his appointment at the Bush Theatre, he was Artistic Director of Freedom Studios in Bradford, Yorkshire where his work included the site-specific work, The Mill – City of Dreams. He has also worked nationally and internationally as a theatre director, writer and practitioner. He was previously Director of Red Ladder Theatre Company’s Asian Theatre School where he directed included Silent Cry, Free World and Streets of Rope.
He originally trained in film, and his debut short film Ellabellapumpanella, commissioned by the UK Film Council, was screened at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2007. He was the recipient of the Decibel Award at the South Bank Awards show in 2006.
Reece Shearsmith’s most recent stage work includes Betty Blue Eyes and Ghost Stories in the West End. Best known for The League of Gentlemen and Psychoville, he also works in film, with credits including Burke and Hare, Shaun of the Dead and This Year’s Love.
