The Stage

Bush Theatre advised to make Westminster move

Published Wednesday 23 November 2005 at 11:10 by Nuala Calvi

Save London’s Theatres Campaign chairman John Levitt has urged the Bush Theatre to consider relocating to the Westminster Theatre, following the collapse of a project to create Britain’s first black venue on the central London site.

The Bush is searching for a new home closer to the centre of the capital, after managers decided it has outgrown its current base above a pub on Shepherd’s Bush Green.

Levitt has suggested that the new theatre being built on the site of the old venue in Westminster could provide the Bush with what it is looking for. Currently unfurnished, the venue is seeking a replacement for its originally intended tenants, black theatre company Talawa.

“I would have thought it was a good possibility for them,” said Levitt. “It will have offices, rehearsal space, a cafeteria, proper frontage and a reasonably adaptable auditorium. We would have loved to see it used as a black theatre but the most important thing is to see that theatre up and running. They would have to raise the money first, which they could do with their reputation.”

The Bush is hoping to raise funds to either build a new venue or find an old one it can adapt which would help enshrine its status as a leading Off-West End venue. A feasibility study is now being commissioned to look into possible solutions. The Bush management has not stated any interest in using the Westminster.

Artistic director Mike Bradwell said: “After 30-odd years we need to be able to expand and be better technically. We’ve really outgrown our space in a lot of ways. We don’t have proper rehearsal facilities or anywhere to do educational work. We rehearse in a variety of smelly church halls. We had to cut the number of seats from 100 to 80 a couple of years ago because of the health and safety implications and losing 20 seats has had quite a big impact. The sightline has also become reduced. And we are constantly in the position of having noise pollution from the pub downstairs.”

It is particularly keen to expand its educational work because of its strong reputation for nurturing new writing. It already works with students from East 15 acting school, runs assistant directorship bursaries and has a writer development programme.

Plans for Talawa’s new theatre in Westminster were scrapped in July after Arts Council England removed £4 million of funding for the project and the scheme’s other funders then followed suit.

It is thought that the site could hold a venue seating between 250 and 300 people.