The Stage Debut Award winner and Olivier award nominee Anoushka Lucas’ acclaimed debut play Elephant opens this week in the Bush Theatre’s main house in a brand-new production.
Part gig, part musical love story, part journey through Empire, this all-new main stage production of Anoushka Lucas’ ‘exquisite’ (Evening Standard) Elephant runs for just three weeks following its celebrated, sold-out run in the Bush’s Studio last year.
‘The men with the Piano look up the narrow staircase of our little flat and they turn to Dad, light their fags, and say; “We might have to take the windows out".'
A piano came through the sky and landed in Lylah's council flat, just for her. As she pours over the keys and sound floods into all the rooms, Lylah falls in love.
At school, Lylah can't ask questions - she's got to be good, good, good or else she'll lose her scholarship. At home she can't ask questions; her cousins say she talks weird, and her parents are distracted. So she asks her piano: Where did you come from? Why are you here? And their shared history tumbles into the light.
This expanded production reunites writer and performer Anoushka Lucas with original director Jess Edwards (Hotter/Fitter, Soho Theatre). Elephant first appeared as part of the Bush’s Protest series, a response to the murder of George Floyd.
Anoushka Lucas is a singer, songwriter, actor and writer. As an actor, her credits include Oklahoma! (West End / Young Vic); Henry V (Donmar); After Life (National); U.Me (BBC World Service). Her other credits include Jesus Christ Superstar (Regent’s Park); Chiaroscuro (Bush); Faces in the Crowd (Gate); Sparks (Edinburgh Fringe/VAULT Festival).
As a composer, Anoushka co-composed the score to The Ballad of Klook and Vinette by Ché Walker (Park/NAMT Festival NYC), and The Etienne Sisters (Stratford East). More recently, Anoushka wrote the score for Sparks by Jessica Butcher (BBC Radio 4/Edinburgh Fringe/VAULT Festival) which won Best Musical of the Edinburgh Fringe 2018 and was adapted for BBC Radio 4. Anoushka, Jessica Butcher and their collaborator Jessica Edwards are currently under commission from Trafalgar Studios for a new musical.
Anoushka’s own music has been championed on BBC Introducing, BBC Radio 2 and Jazz FM and her debut album “Dark Soul’ was released in 2019.
This production is generously supported by Charles Holloway.
Picture credit: The Other Richard
