NEW PLAY EXAMINING HUMAN IMPACT OF CUTS TO THE LEGAL AID SYSTEM
SPONSORED BY THE LAW SOCIETY OF ENGLAND AND WALES
The world premiere production of THE INVISIBLE by Rebecca Lenkiewicz will be directed by Michael Oakley (The Life and Times of Fanny Hill, Bristol Old Vic; Variation on a Theme, Finborough). The production previews from 3 July (press night 8 July).
In a first for both organisations, the Bush Theatre production of THE INVISIBLE will be sponsored by The Law Society of England and Wales, the independent professional body for solicitors. Under its President Andrew Caplen, the Law Society launched its Access to Justice campaign in September 2014, highlighting the human impacts of the cuts and to the legal aid system.
Law Society President Andrew Caplen said: “We are delighted to be sponsoring this production. The theme of The Invisible chimes very clearly with our Access to Justice campaign. Cuts to legal aid have forced more and more people into ‘do it yourself’ justice where representing themselves is the only option other than to take no action at all for themselves and their families. This creative partnership will raise awareness of the importance of the role of lawyers within our justice system. The fundamental concept of the rule of law is nothing more than an ideal if people cannot obtain access to justice.”
THE INVISIBLE (3 July – 15 August 2015) is a new play by Rebecca Lenkiewicz about the recent changes to the provision of legal aid. Based on interviews with real people at all levels of the British justice system, this play aims to tell the stories of those ordinary people affected by the cuts and to examine how they are driving ever deeper cracks into the fabric of our society. With cuts currently totalling £350m, the reforms to the legal aid system are arguably one of the biggest threats to human rights in Britain today.
Casting to be announced.
Rebecca Lenkiewicz is an award-winning writer who, in 2008, was the first living female playwright to have her work produced on the Olivier Stage at the National Theatre, London. Rebecca is currently under commission to Out of Joint Theatre Company, Manhattan Theatre Club, New York, and the National Theatre. Rebecca’s screenplay Ida, co-written with Pawel Pawlikowksi, won Best Film at various festivals including the London Film Festival as well as the Oscar for best foreign language film at this year’s awards.
Michael Oakley’s most recent credit is directing Caroline Quentin in The Life and Times of Fanny Hillat Bristol Old Vic Theatre. In 2012 he was Co-Artistic Director of Theatre on the Fly – a pop-up venue at Chichester Festival Theatre – where his productions included the acclaimed Playhouse Creatures. Prior to this, he was Trainee Director in Residence at Chichester Festival Theatre, and a recipient of the prestigious JMK Award for young directors.
James Graham’s political thriller THE ANGRY BRIGADE is currently playing in the main house.
THE INVISIBLE will be followed in the Bush’s autumn season by F*CK THE POLAR BEARS by Tanya Ronder (11 September – 24 October 2015) and FORGET ME NOT by Tom Holloway (8 December 2015 – 16 January 2016), which is a co-production between the Bush Theatre and HighTide Festival Theatre.
RADAR, the Bush Theatre’s annual festival of new writing, will take place in November 2015. Full line-up and ticket information to be announced.
