REVIEW: THE BRIDGE @ BUSH THEATRE

🎭 The Bridge

📍 Main Space, Bush Theatre, 7 Uxbridge Road, Shepherd's Bush, London, W12 8LJ

🗓 Monday 2nd November 2026

⭐️ 4 Stars

BORDER-CROSSING COMEDY BOUND TO HOLD YOU CAPTIVE

Last night I headed over to Shepherd's Bush with high expectations. It's always a pleasure to be invited to the Bush Theatre because this place is genuinely revolutionary. They don’t just talk the talk when it comes to inclusivity. They are consistently leading the charge in putting stories from underrepresented voices from all around the world onto the stage. It's a welcoming cultural hub, and the vibe is always electric. I had also heard great things about previous work from Alaa Shehada, and I was looking forward to seeing him for myself.

The piece follows a gruelling, high-stakes 12-hour journey as a man tries to navigate the sheer logistical madness of crossing the border into Jordan from Palestine. Because there are no active civilian airports in Palestine, getting anywhere requires traversing an obstacle course of land checkpoints, capricious security guards, and endless bureaucratic red tape. It's an intensely personal story about displacement, the yearning for connection, and the resilience of human hope, all packed into a remarkably tight, fast-paced narrative that holds you completely captive without ever resorting to cheap melodrama.

What struck me first was the absolute brilliance of Shehada and co-writer Sam Beale's storytelling. They keep the entire narrative deeply rooted in structural truth, laying bare the exhausting everyday indignities of living under occupation, yet they infuse the script with an exceptional, sharp-witted humour. They manage to find big, surprising laughs in the most absurdly frustrating bureaucratic hurdles, proving that comedy can be an incredibly potent weapon for survival and storytelling. It’s clever, poignant, and beautifully balanced. We are never just told what is happening, but rather shown with a wonderful clarity. Because of this, I felt each moment deeply.

As far as his performance goes, Shehada is a total force of nature! He has this inherently warm, friendly persona that immediately gets you on board with him from the second he steps out. There is 100% believability in everything he says and does, backed up by an impeccable sense of comedic timing. His physical comedy is next-level. Every raised eyebrow, desperate shrug, and frantic facial expression speaks volumes. He multi-roles with exceptional precision, shifting seamlessly between a talkative driver, a stressed cigarette smuggler, a confused elderly lady, and severe border guards.

At a couple of points, his crowd work was so sharp and disarming it felt like he was slipping into a top-tier stand-up set, playfully checking front-row passports and keeping the room completely on its toes. When he told a fellow reviewer that she didn't need to present her passport because she was reviewing, the entire auditorium erupted with laughter.

My inner technical theatre geek was also incredibly happy last night. The lighting design was so beautifully atmospheric, carving out distinct emotional shifts on an otherwise minimalist stage. The sound design works incredibly well too, layering subtle environmental textures that brilliantly enhance the claustrophobia of the checkpoints and the vast, sweltering tension of the journey. It's slick, evocative, and technically very smart.

There were, however, a few minor bumps in the road that stopped me from awarding a flawless five stars. The first is an acoustic issue. Because Shehada isn't mic'ed, his rapid-fire dialogue and sharpest punchlines could get somewhat lost when they were delivered with his back to me on the Bush's signature three-sided thrust staging.

There was also a frustrating issue with the sightlines. Throughout the piece, there are some incredibly constructed illustrations and historical quotes projected onto the back wall. Unfortunately, anyone sat in the side blocks - as I was - had part of this visual narrative blocked by the structural pillars. It’s a real shame because these projections become an integral part of the overall production. Perhaps, as this is a one-person piece that doesn't need massive wings, a false wall could have been built further forward and in line with the pillars. That would allow the entire audience, no matter where they're sat, to get the full experience of this powerful piece.

Minor staging gripes aside, this is a vital, deeply moving, and uproariously funny night of theatre that you really shouldn't miss.

Performances of THE BRIDGE continue at Bush Theatre until Wednesday 11th November. CLICK HERE to find out more and to book tickets.

Neill Kovacic-Clarke

All views are my own and I pride myself on being honest, fair and free from influence. Theatre is subjective and it is important to remember that all views expressed are just those of one person.

My ticket for this performance of The Bridge was gifted by Bush Theatre, who invited me to watch the show in exchange for my honest review. The fact that my ticket was gifted played no part in the content of my review or the star rating given.

CAST:

Performer - Alaa Shehada; Voiceover Artists - Ameena Adileh and Sami Abu Wardeh

CREATIVES:

Writer - Alaa Shehada; Co-Writer and Director - Sam Beale; Movement Director - Micaela Miranda; Composer and Sound Designer - Julius Pollux Rothlaender; Lighting Designer - Lily Dawford; Project Illustrations - Jazz Thompson; Project Animations - Charlotte Knowles; Technical Operator - Jacob Butcher; Producer - Charlotte Knowles (for PalCom)

RUNNING TIME (approx):

1 hour 20 minutes, with no interval

CONTENT WARNINGS:

Strong language; Discussions of the military occupation of Palestine, mass killing, and gun violence; Discussions of displacement, exile, death, and grief; Themes of racism and the impacts of colonialism; References to smoking

AGE GUIDELINE:

12+

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