Conversations, dispatches and ideas from the Bush Theatre.

Collaborating on The Cord: Dr Jess Heron & Bijan Sheibani

Thu 25 Apr 2024 | Our Plays, The Bigger Picture

Dr Jess Heron, founder and CEO of National perinatal mental health charity, Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP), and acclaimed writer and director, Bijan Sheibani, collaborated on research for his new play The Cord, that follows a family struggling to navigate the postpartum period. “APP, which began as a research panel, now supports women and families…

BUSHCYLING: How we’re improving our sustainability, one stage set at a time

Thu 23 Nov 2023 | Our Plays, The Bigger Picture

When you watch a new show at the Bush, you’re seeing a brand new set every time… or are you? Putting on a production can use a lot of resources: from energy for lights to purchasing costumes and furniture to the timber needed to build sets and scenery, so we try to reuse materials as…

“I keep coming back to sex and death – but, you know, in a fun way.” Meet Marcelo Dos Santos

Thu 02 Nov 2023 | Our People, Playwriting

With a day to go until Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going To Happen bursts onto our stage, we caught up with writer Marcelo Dos Santos to get the inside scoop on his inspirations for the play and how it feels to, as he says, “put it all out there”. “I’m inspired by…

Your Thoughts: The B*easts

Tue 16 Jan 2018 | Our Plays

BAFTA-winning actress Monica Dolan brings her debut play, The Beasts* to the Bush Theatre.

It follows her award-winning run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Starring Dolan and directed by John Hogarth, The Beasts* explores how far one mother will go to give her child what she wants.

*Such* clever writing & stellar performance (of course) from @MonicaDolan in THE B*EASTS. Left w lots to contemplate…

— Sadie Leyla (@SadieLeyla) 28 August 2017

Just seen @MonicaDolan's The B*easts again – unbelievably moving. Thank you for sharing xx pic.twitter.com/6ZfTYd5QKr

— Sophia (@Soapy_Crystal) August 27, 2017

“Dolan’s play yields some startling and sharply observed insights” Exeunt

@monicadolan gives such an eloquent and truthful performance in her ethically resonant and disturbing contemporary tale ‘The B*easts’

— Mathew Russell (@MathRussell) 23 August 2017

140 characters can’t do justice to the sublime beauty & raw power of @MonicaDolan‘s The B*easts @FollowTheCow. Do all you can to see. — Oli Gordon (@oli_gordon) 22 August 2017

140 characters can't do justice to the sublime beauty & raw power of @MonicaDolan's The B*easts @FollowTheCow. Do all you can to see.

— Oli Gordon (@oli_gordon) August 22, 2017

@MonicaDolan saw The B*easts yday – best show this fringe. Intelligent, eye opening, masterclass of storytelling & performance #edfringe2017

— Hannah Parker (@_Hannah_Parker) 22 August 2017

“Dolan takes a refreshingly balanced view of the subject matter that doesn’t resort to simplistic generalisations – crucial for such a hot-button topic.” The Wee Review

Just come out of @MonicaDolan #B*easts: shaking at the raw power of the performance, and mind zinging with the complex issues raised. — Douglas Schatz (@douglasschatz) 22 August 2017

Just come out of @MonicaDolan #B*easts: shaking at the raw power of the performance, and mind zinging with the complex issues raised.

— Douglas Schatz (@douglasschatz) August 22, 2017

GO SEE THE B*EASTS! @MonicaDolan is beyond brilliant. Just shows all you need to tell a story is an e-cig, a chair, and buckets of skill.

— Emily Steck (@_emsteck_) 21 August 2017

A masterclass in acting from Monica Dolan in her knotty play #B*easts about the pontification of culture and asking whose body is it anyway — lyngardner (@lyngardner) 21 August 2017

“Dolan is brilliant; her acting is exceptionally nuanced and naturalistic.” A Younger Theatre

A masterclass in acting from Monica Dolan in her knotty play #B*easts about the pontification of culture and asking whose body is it anyway

— lyngardner (@lyngardner) August 21, 2017

The hairs on my neck stood up on end during The B*easts. You must see @MonicaDolan‘s utterly captivating and heartbreaking #EdFringe show. pic.twitter.com/Qd9cjcLy6l

— In B, Fenby! (@hellofoxfox) 19 August 2017

@MonicaDolan took society to pieces tonight. THE B*EASTS is razor sharp, impossibly well written and executed. You have to see it. Yes you. — Davey Lias (@daveylias) 17 August 2017

@MonicaDolan took society to pieces tonight. THE B*EASTS is razor sharp, impossibly well written and executed. You have to see it. Yes you.

— Davey Lias (@daveylias) August 17, 2017

The B*easts not only shows that @MonicaDolan is one of our most precious acting talents, but also a complex and uncompromising writer

— Ben Weatherill (@BenWeatherill) 15 August 2017

Top tip 4 fringers. The B*easts by @MonicaDolan is outstanding – writing and performance. Pornification of our youth exposed exquisitely. — COMPLEX. (@theCOMPLEXco) 12 August 2017

Top tip 4 fringers. The B*easts by @MonicaDolan is outstanding – writing and performance. Pornification of our youth exposed exquisitely.

— COMPLEX. (@theCOMPLEXco) August 12, 2017

Discover the modern obsession of putting your child first. Find out more about The B*easts or book here. It’s at the Bush Theatre 12 Feb – 3 Mar 2018.

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