Bush Theatre

I saw a wonderful play this week-end: Chalet Lines, by Lee Mattinson.
An added bonus was that it was being performed in the Bush Theatre which has recently moved into the former Shepherds Bush library. A modern twist of green neon above the entrance gives a taste of what's to come.

The foyer is home to a friendly bar, leading into a reading room/café with book shelves piled high with play texts and gorgeous hardback "coffee table books", perfect for browsing through whilst enjoying a pre-theatre meal or cosy drink. During Chalet Lines, the room was decked out with garlands of multi-colored bulbs, echoing the Butlins chalet set! There was a lovely atmosphere in the room.

When transforming the library in to a theatre, the builders removed the foundation stone of the library and unearthed a time capsule. It included a copy of the West London Observer and Advertiser, dated 1895 and a hand written note by the library commissioner. The papers contained adverts, including a cure for drunkenness and The Bush hotel. The Bush has buried their own capsule.

The 140 seater theatre is a versatile space and much of the interior was recycled or home made from materials found on site. I loved the lob-sided set for Chalet Lines.

Theatrical loos: papered with old pages from different plays!

WWW.BUSHTHEATRE.CO.UK

 ror.grapeshot.co.uk/southwest/redirect.cgi?target=http://ad.uk.doubleclick.net/jump/fulhamchronicle.5293/article_mpu;slot=article%5Fmpu;sect=local%2Dfulham%2Dand%2Dhammers;templ=page;cat=News;reg=TMS;st=other;oid=29239780;sz=300x250;gs_cat=GS_CHANNELS;tile=4;ord=222541016?" target="_blank"> <img src="http://trinitymirror.grapeshot.co.uk/southwest/redirect.cgi?target=http://ad.uk.doubleclick.net/ad/fulhamchronicle.5293/article_mpu;slot=article%5Fmpu;sect=local%2Dfulham%2Dand%2Dhammers;templ=page;cat=News;reg=TMS;st=other;oid=29239780;sz=300x250;gs_cat=GS_CHANNELS;tile=4;ord=222541016?" width="300" height="250" border="0" alt="article_mpuAdvertisement" /> </a> 

Theatre Props!

I love props! It's been a wee while since I had the chance to have a rummage in a theatre props store, but I've recently been deputy stage managing a production so had access to the magical world of all things pretend! Many of the American props I needed weren't in storage, so I ended up making most of them! So, shortly, tins of american spaghettios, tuna, explosives, shopping bags and New York deli take-away soups will be added to the collection! I took a few snaps of the more unusual items in stock to give a flavour of the atmosphere in those gorgeous prop rooms that exist nationwide in the anals of theatres and big warehouses! 

Prosthetic limbs seem to follow me around!

I played a naughty school girl a few years ago in "Once a catholic".
Some of these props appeared in the convent in the show (Not the menorah though!)

Very "Downton Abbey"!

A vast collection of swords...and a gorgeous old vacuum cleaner like my grandma used to have!

One item I did source for Suburban Motel was a bottle of JD! Unfort there was no call for a pair of inquisitive geese or toys!

I love the old fashioned weighing scales!

Phones and typewriters from every era

"Bums on seats" is always so important for a theatre...modern, regal, bentwood, French....no shortgae of chairs!

I could have stolen half the furniture and upcycled it - many pieces are antiques!

Ron Arad's Curtain Call

Curtain Call, designed by Ron Arad, is an interactive installation at the Roundhouse in Camden 

The floor-to-ceiling cineamtic curtain, composed of hanging silicon tubing,

shimmers with animated visuals by 12 artists. It has avery futuristic feel.

The audience within the curtain watching the spectacle in semi-darkness.
The curtain was an original concept in a building full of character

"Pianorama": a lighthearted audio visual composition by Christian Marclay,
featuring a keyboard looped in a giant circle, played by many hands.

My favourite piece was Ori Gershts "Offering". Half the curtain had images of
 a bullfighter  being silently dressed for a fight, whilst the other half shows crowds
 watching a fight nervously. I felt as if I was in the actual bull ring!



Excerpts of visuals by David Shrigley, Hussein Chalayan, Babis Alexiadis & Mat Collishaw
..yet another innovative installation at this wonderful cultural venue!

 

Wiltons Grand Music Hall!

I was really pleased to read that one of Londons hidden gems has raised enough money to continue operating. Wiltons is the the oldest surviving music hall in the world. Renowned for it's atmosphere of faded glamour and decadence, Wiltons resides down Graces alley near Tower Bridge. Built in 1859, it was home to musicals and circus acts, before becoming derelict and then later reopening.

I love enjoying a drink in the original mahogany bar dating back to to the 1700's.

  The intimate performing space is supported by
wooden barley pillared galleries.

When I watch a show there, whether it be a dance performance by the wonderful Noel Wallace or a mime act warming up for the Edinburgh festival, you feel transported back in time, with history seeping out of it's cracked peeling walls.

 A wonderful venue!

Delicious dancers!

Carlos Acosta

Noel Wallace

....just because they're two of my favourite ballet dancers! I would love to see Carlos Acosta dance live. I was lucky enough to see a special performance by Noel Wallace at Wiltons Music hall, which was mesmerising...

The furniture needs mowing!

These quirky and gorgeous, giant chairs, created from artifical grass, are currently furnishing the South Bank infront of the National theatre.