Bush Theatre announces four new productions for 2026

The new work will be presented by award-winning playwrights and creatives as the Bush Theatre continues to launch, establish, and sustain careers for the most exciting writing talent. These productions will be the last ones programmed by outgoing Artistic Director Lynette Linton.

The first from 7 February will be Sweetmeats, which will play in the theatre's main house. Presented in collaboration with Tara Theatre, this play is an intimate love story between two South Asian elders that will pull at your heartstrings. Written by Karim Khan (Brown Boys Swim, Soho Theatre) and directed by Tara Theatre’s Artistic Director Natasha Kathi-Chandra, Sweetmeats will play until 21 March 2026.

It will be followed by Heart Wall by Bush Writer’s Group alumnus Kit Withington, a co-commission with Oldham Coliseum. Directed by Bush Theatre's Associate Director Katie Greenall, the bittersweet, tender exploration of the long tail of grief and the fickleness of memory will play from 7 April - 16 May 2026.

In the Bush Theatre's Studio, Tony Craze Award-winner Farah Najib makes her Bush Theatre debut with Maggotsfrom January 2026. This new play explores the importance of human connection and questions what it really takes to build a community. It will play until 28 February 2026.

Concluding this announcement of new shows is I'm Not Being Funny, written by Piers Black and directed by Bryony Shanahan. This new play, which will run from 7 May - 6 June, I'm Not Being Funny is a new play about hope, endings, and how to survive when a knock knock joke hits you in the gut.