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@kitwithington

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Over forty plays and counting… Say hello to the NHB play stack for the first half of 2026!

We're already so proud of this year's selection of exceptional, pertinent, enthralling plays. And, we are of course delighted as always to have welcomed many new playwrights to our list. Play stack of NHB plays.

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A play that has live karaoke in full swing as you walk into the theatre is such a fun way to start a show. Shout out to the brave souls from the audience who got up there (I sang along comfortably from my seat 😆) Heart Wall was entertaining, heartwrenching and a really tender watch 🎭

The play begins with Franky (Rowan Robinson) who has returned home from her new life in London. She visits the family home and comes across her Dad, Dez (Deka Walmsley) who is acting a bit strange. Is he just surprised to see Franky who has turned up unexpectedly or is there more to it? We see Franky catch up with her friend Valentine (Aaron Anthony) who runs the pub and ‘frenemy’ Charlene (Olivia Forrest) who can’t quite decide if she is happy to see Franky or not. As the play progresses things start to unravel especially with Franky, her Dad and Mum Linda (Sophie Stanton). They are all suffering in different ways and what plays out is such a genuine display of real families and real life.

Written by Kit Withington and directed by Katie GreenalI, I enjoyed the way the play unfolded. There are layers to the dynamics of families especially with secrets, belonging and grief at the centre. I wasn’t expecting some of the ways in which the characters displayed their emotions or lashed out, but that’s what pain can do. It was so interesting to see how it manifested differently for each of them too. Deka as Daddy Dez was the star of the show and I truly felt his heart ache ❤️‍🩹

The set for Heart Wall transported us to The Sun Inn pub and it was incredibly realistic. From the fully stocked bar and all the snacks, down to the red covered bar stools & tv high on the wall, perfect for karaoke sing-a-longs 🎤

I have seen many plays depict the effects of grief and how it can consume you but what Heart Wall did so beautifully was portray grief years down the line and despite how much time has passed; the impact of that loss many years later. The ending scene was so poignant and touching; a stunning way to conclude.

This one gets four stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Heart Wall is playing at @bushtheatre until Saturday 16th May.

#cometheatrewithme #londontheatre #theatrereview #bushtheatre #heartwall

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Yesterday, I came to the Bush Theatre for the first time, and left wondering why it took me so long. Exceptional casting (@rowanrobinso & @livlivforrest on 🔥),smart staging, and a production that clearly had real care behind it.

The play unfolds in an Irish pub hosting its all-week-long karaoke nights 🍺and the energy in the room before curtain-up reflects that perfectly.But as tempting as it is to lean into the singalong spirit, be warned: this is not a play of easy laughs. I left feeling emotional and a little melancholic,if I’m honest.

Without giving too much away, the Play puts a sharp eye on the relationship we have with our parents, specifically the complicated stage we enter once we leave home and become our own adult versions of ourselves. ❤️‍🩹 That quiet(!) guilt of leaving parents behind, of watching the distance grow not just in miles but in understanding was told beautifully.Looking around the theatre, I could see it landing across all ages: parents nodding with a broken smile and younger audience (myself included) feeling like we are looking into a mirror.

What the play does brilliantly is balance comedy with a creeping unease that never quite leaves you. It builds like a ticking clock, you’re always waiting for a secret to surface or a character to reach a breaking point. From a technical perspective, the stage design is deceptively simple but full of surprises (I won’t say more,just be prepared).The lighting too is handled with real intelligence, something I’ve come to notice and appreciate in smaller theatres. There’s one particular scene where the characters watch television that will make you understand exactly what I mean.

The story also touches on something quietly universal: how leaving your hometown changes your perspective entirely; on the place itself, on your parents, on the way they live.But the ending (one of the finest I’ve seen) brings it all together in a way that feels circular and earned. It isn’t a neat, positive “final” resolution. It’s human. It’s honest. It’s relatable. 🫂

1hr 40mins(no interval),all seats are great,see it until May 16th

#heartwallplay #bushtheatre #theatrereview #londontheatre #londontheatrereviews

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So this is livin!!

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The Heart Wall team are in the building ❤️

Sending big love to the cast and creative team on their first day of rehearsal today.

We can't wait to share this bittersweet and tender story with you all.

Heart Wall runs in the Holloway Theatre from 7 April - 16 May. Tickets from £15 🎟️

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Perhaps the worst time to be joining the theatre world since the Actual War, but embarrassingly happy to be doing so with the Bush and these eggs.

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Enjoying a trip around @friezeartfair

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chill spot circa 1997

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night tube lols (i wasn't invited to the converse party)

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brixton babes bring out their new album next week, and it's good.

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