A statement from Bush Theatre: “The Bush is a place for you.”

Everyone is welcome at the Bush Theatre. We strive to create a place where our communities feel safe, represented and respected.

At the Bush we champion work and artists that challenge the status quo, disrupt the canon and provide a platform for underrepresented and marginalised voices. We are proud to have a decades-long history of presenting work that represents and celebrates the LGBTQ+ community, and to have some of the most diverse and representative audiences in the city.

Following the recent Supreme Court ruling on the legal definitions of sex and gender in relation to the Equality Act 2010, we recognise the urgency of restating our commitment to our communities and to our values. We applaud other theatres and artists who have already spoken out.

To all of our trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming visitors, staff, artists and participants; the Bush Theatre is a place for you. You are welcome here. You are a vital part of the Bush Theatre family, and we stand in solidarity with you.

We will do everything we can to protect your safety here. We will challenge harmful or exclusionary behaviour, in line with our zero tolerance policy relating to harassment, discrimination, bullying and abuse of any kind. We will keep making art with and for you. And we are exploring proactive ways we can continue to support our trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming community of artists, staff, visitors and participants. This takes time, so we will have further news on this soon.

We take seriously the way that our work offers people insight into experiences beyond their own, allowing for learning, building empathy and understanding. This is why we embody an inclusive and intersectional approach to visitor experience, which includes our toilets. The toilets on our first floor are non-gendered, offering a choice of facilities, and there is a single-use accessible cubicle on the ground floor with floor-to-ceiling walls and a sink within the cubicle.

The Bush is a place for you.
For our communities to feel seen, valued and celebrated.
Now and always.