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Bush Spring Records Trad Doherty & More Delivery

The spring season at west London’s Bush Theatre features new work by Irish comedian Mark Doherty, American Catherine Trieschmann and Recorded Delivery’s Alecky Blythe.

The season begins with Let’s Get It On, a week-long festival of local new writing selected from the Westwords/8 Boroughs Creative Writing Initiative, giving upcoming playwrights in the area a chance to work with professional directors and have their plays performed. The scripts will be staged at Riverside Studios on 27 March, before transferring to the Bush from 28 March to 30 March 2006.

A Beckett-style comedy by Mark Doherty, Trad, which won a Fringe First Award at the 2005 Edinburgh Fringe, then runs from 6 to 29 April 2006 (previews from 4 April). The story is about the very old Thomas and his even more ancient ‘da’, who set off across the Irish countryside to seek a child Thomas confesses to have fathered after a long-ago fling. Doherty has performed as a stand-up comedian in Ireland, England, Edinburgh, Adelaide and New York, and has written for theatre, radio and television. Trad is directed by Mikel Murfi.

Catherine Trieschmann’s Crooked is billed as a “humorous drama” about evangelical and Sapphic love in Bible-bashing Middle America. A 14-year-old girl with a twisted spine arrives in Mississippi and befriends the hapless born-again Mirabel, who sparks a spiritual and sexual journey of discovery. The play was previously seen at the Edinburgh Fringe (in 2004), and is directed at the Bush by artistic director Mike Bradwell. It runs from 5 May to 3 June (previews from 3 May).

Verbatim company Recorded Delivery (whose first show, Come Out Eli, won the Time Out Live Award for Best production on the Fringe in 2003 and was nominated for a Whatsonstage.com Award) use recorded and edited interviews to create Cruising, about pensioners in search of passion. Since her heart was broken by David from Aberdeen – the world’s best lover and a millionaire – Maureen is finding it difficult to meet anyone else who can satisfy her; even after 33 blind dates and 12 cruises. Her best friend Margaret, on the other hand, has no shortage of suitors – but has she chosen the right one?

Alecky Blythe’s Cruising for Recorded Delivery was seen last year in a reading at the Bush (See News, 30 Jun 2005). This new full production is directed by Matthew Dunster and runs from 9 June to 1 July (previews from 7 June). Currently at the Shepherd’s Bush venue, Chloe Moss’ second play to be performed at the Bush, Christmas is Miles Away, finishes its limited season on 25 March 2006.

- by Caroline Ansdell

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