Remember when the Royal Court decamped to the Elephant and Castle shopping centre? Well, they’re heading south again, this time taking up residence in Peckham.
Following the sell-out launch of the Theatre Local project which takes plays to “alternative spaces”, the Sloane Square powerhouse will be putting on shows at the Bussey Building on Rye Lane.
A former cricket bat factory, The Bussey Building now stands at the centre of a burgeoning cultural hub on Rye Lane, saved from demolition by community group Peckham Vision. Tickets are sold on a pay-what-you-like basis on the door, or £10 in advance.
The two shows on offer are Debbie Tucker Green's new play Truth and Reconciliation, and a world premiere of The Westbridge by Rachel De-Lahay.
Truth and Reconciliation transfers from a run at the Royal Court to open in Peckham on 29 September. Spanning five different countries, with a cast of 22, the play explores the human stories at the heart of conflicts in South Africa, Rwanda, Bosnia, Zimbabwe and Northern Ireland.
Rachel De-lahay’s new play The Westbridge (3-19 Nov) is set in South London, and looks at life, relationships and friendships across a minefield of racial and cultural differences. Rachel is a graduate of the Royal Court's Young Writer's Programme. After playing in Peckham, those of you who would rather stay the Sloane Square side of town(!) can see the show at the Royal Court's Jerwood Theatre Upstairs from 25 November to 23 December.
Theatre Local opens on 29 September with truth and reconciliation at The Bussey Building, 133 Rye Lane, Peckham, London, SE15 4ST. Tickets are pay-what-you-like on the door, or £10 in advance from the Royal Court Theatre Box Office on 020 7565 5000 or visit www.royalcourttheatre.com.
