A night of unexpected twists unfolded at Bush Theatre last week as audience members took on the challenge of shaping an emotional family drama without a script.
The two-night run on 12 and 13 November saw TV and stage stars including Milly Zero (Eastenders), Reda Elazouar (Sex Education), and Precious Mustapha (Ted Lasso) take on the challenge of crafting characters in real time.
Each night's story centred on three adopted sisters dealing with their mother's terminal illness. The audience helped shape the narrative by drawing character traits from a bag – setting up relationship dynamics that played out through the evening.
"Talking People is truly a one of a kind show that catches me off guard everytime we set foot on stage," said producer Elina Saleh.
"It is an intense, funny, intelligent exploration of creating characters and relationships in the moment that brought everyone in the room together to produce something that magically exists for one night only."
The show unfolded in two parts. The first half involved audience interaction, while the second focused on a pivotal moment – the sisters receiving news of their mother's final hours. The improv format allowed the cast to explore family tensions naturally, leading to an emotional finale.
What's next at Bush Theatre
While Talking People returns in April 2024, you can catch two new productions at Bush this winter.
Beru Tessema's Wolves On Road explores the world of cryptocurrency in the main Holloway Theatre, while Eleanor Tindall's Tender tells a moving love story in the Studio. Both run until 21 December. Tickets for upcoming Bush Theatre shows are available via their website.
Bush Theatre is one of several venues making Hammersmith & Fulham a growing hub for theatre outside the West End. From side-splitting comedy to show-stopping theatre, there's always something exciting happening in our borough.
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