Synopsis:

It never should have worked: a makeshift theatre above a pub far west of the West End in the dark days of the early 70s with no funding beyond its (initially) meagre box office takings. It certainly never should have kick started the careers of the likes of Catherine Johnson or Victoria Wood, Conor McPherson or Simon Callow. It shouldn’t have worked. And yet it did.

This book, coming just in time for the Bush Theatre’s 40th anniversary in 2012, captures this glorious and winding history. The story of the past forty years is of groundbreaking premieres and the early careers of some of our most important artists. It is also a story of survival.

The Bush hasn’t survived to be proud,conventional, or safe. It survives to be loud, sometimes angry, and always loving. It’s time to acknowledge and celebrate those qualities.