In line with current government advice, the Bush Theatre has today announced that their building will be reopening on 6 August with social distancing measures in place and new interim opening times.
Over the summer the Bush Theatre will be running activities for young people, aspiring theatre-makers and local residents, and the Library Bar will be serving drinks and food.
The Summer Project will engage 14-17-year-old West Londoners in creative workshops that explore storytelling, acting, and creative writing, before their return to school in September. The masterclasses, facilitated by practitioners including actor Adjoa Andoh (Doctor Who, Richard II, Leave Taking), writer Jonathan Harvey (Beautiful Thing, Coronation Street) and writer and director Rikki Beadle-Blair (Team Angelica), will be open to all budding theatre-makers. The Bush is also building on their longstanding partnerships with local organisations to support several community responses to the pandemic – from after school clubs to food collection initiatives.
Due to the pandemic, the venue has lost 40% of its income. To support its reopening, the theatre today launches ‘Write the Bush’s Future’, a fundraising campaign for friends of the Bush to pledge their support from as little as £60. The money raised by this group of very special donors will support the theatre’s artistic team and artists to create the innovative, groundbreaking theatre that the Bush is known for.
To make it as safe as possible for visitors, the Bush team has made key changes to the Library Bar and front of house areas, including introducing table booking, enhanced cleaning measures, social distancing, and guidance for visitors.
More details on the new opening times, safety measures and programme of events can be found on the Bush website.
Artistic Director Lynette Linton said: ‘At the Bush, community comes first. As we journey out of this crisis we are bringing our local communities and our family of artists with us. We are opening our building to support them through the summer and when we can put shows on in our theatres again they will be stories that are as bold, electrifying, and diverse as the city we live in.’
