The Bush Theatre reopens following year-long £4.3 million major redevelopment

The Bush Theatre reopens this week.

The Bush Theatre in west London has reopened this week following the biggest capital project in the theatre's history. The year-long renovation has cost £4.3million and has been completed by architects Haworth Tompkins who have turned the old library space into a fully accessible, modernised cultural building.

The new more sustainable venue features an entirely accessible new entrance, new front-of-house area and exterior garden terrace. It features a new studio space and rehearsal room that will together allow over 50% increase in produced, co-produced and commissioned productions.

Artistic Director of the Bush Theatre, Madani Younis said of the reopening:

"Following this landmark capital project, we couldn't be more excited to re-open our building to the world. We're looking forward to welcoming audiences old and new to this incredible space. It was important to me that we re-open with a week of celebrations that embrace the diversity of the world we live in. 'Black Lives, Black Words' is a bold statement about one of the most important movements of our time: #BlackLivesMatter. This, followed by Rajiv Joseph's award-winning 'Guards at the Taj' directed by Jamie Lloyd, sets the tone of the stories we want to tell in our beautiful new home."

Younis' vision for a theatre that reflects the diversity and vibrancy of London today has been the driving force behind the redevelopment project. The new building will nurture, develop and showcase the best of new artists and their work; reflecting local, national and international communities and encouraging the diversification of artists and artistic leadership in the UK.

The previously announced new season will include Jamie Lloyd directing the European premiere of Guards at the Taj by Pulitzer Prize finalist Rajiv Joseph which will run at the venue from 7 April to 20 May 2017. This will be followed by the European premiere of Hir by Taylor Mac, directed by Nadia Fall which will run from 15 June to 22 July 2017 and a new commission by the Bush Theatre called Of Kith and Kin by Chris Thompson will run from 18 October to 25 November.

The Studio will feature three world premieres, While We're Here (26 April to 27 May 2017); Nassim by Nassim Soleimanpour (24 to 29 July 2017) directed by Bush Associate Director Omar Elerian, starring the playwright himself; and Ramona Tells Jim by Sophie Wu (18 September - 21 October 2017).

Tickets for all productions in the new season are now on sale.