Bush Theatre to reopen with new play Overflow by leading trans voice Travis Alabanza

Photo credit: Leviticus Hinds

London’s Bush Theatre is to reopen with a new play described as a ‘hilarious and devastating’ tour of women’s bathrooms.

Overflow is the latest work of performance artist Travis Alabanza, one of the UK’s most prominent trans voices.

It runs from 8 - 22 December at 5pm and 8pm, with public booking open from 16 November during Transgender Awareness Week.

Directed by Debbie Hannan, the monologue will be the first live performance at the Shepherd’s Bush venue since government restrictions on theatres were imposed due to the pandemic.

At a time when nightlife is merely a distant memory, Overflow takes us into a club toilet, where the character Rosie becomes cornered in a flooding cubicle. As her panic rises, she remembers the drunken heart-to-hearts she once had on nights out and recalls friendships forged in front of crowded mirrors.

“Club toilets have taught me more about sisterhood than any book.”

The production will be performed with social distancing and government Covid-19 guidelines in place.

Artistic Director Lynette Linton said: “I’m proud and excited to be announcing that we are back on stage at the Bush Theatre. With Overflow we continue to produce work that reflects and interrogates our society and we are honoured to be producing Travis Alabanza’s latest play.”

Production design is by Max Johns, lighting by Jess Bernberg, sound by Francis Botu, movement direction by Annie-Lunnette Deakin-Foster, voice and accent coaching by Fiona Kennedy, with casting yet to be announced.

There are Saturday matinees of Overflow on 12 and 19 December at 2pm, and for ticket-holders on 10 December there will be a post-show Q&A with the cast and crew.

A captioned performance will take place on 17 December at 8pm and an audio described show on 19 December at 2pm.

For more information and to book tickets, please click here.