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The Real Ones West End

The Real Ones 2024

Opened: October 21, 2024
Closing: October 26, 2024

The Real Ones - West End History , Info & More

Bush Theatre
Shepherds Bush Green London

A funny and honest love letter to platonic soulmates from the team behind Olivier Award winner The P Word. Stars Nathaniel Curtis (It’s A Sin) and Olivier nominee Nnabiko Ejimofor (For Black Boys).



“I love you. Like genuinely I love you. You’re a real one.”



Best friends Zaid and Neelam shared a dream: get away, make it as playwrights, build a future where they’re free to be themselves. Together, always.



Years later, things are far from what they expected. Zaid’s life has kinda stalled – half out the closet, living at home and still chasing the dream. While Neelam’s has taken a completely different path, as she chooses to prioritise her own happiness.



As their lives pull further apart and a mess of things left unsaid hangs between them, it becomes less and less clear if they’ll ever find a way back to each other.



Star of Russell T Davies’ powerful Channel 4 series It’s A Sin, Nathaniel Curtis plays Zaid alongside Mariam Haque (Plebs, Black Mirror) as Neelam. They are joined by Nnabiko Ejimofor (Jitney, Old Vic) and Anthony Howell (Luther).



Praise for The P Word:

WINNER Olivier Award, Achievement in Affiliate Theatre

★★★★★ “Tremendous. Devastating. Plays like this are rare.” Time Out

★★★★ “Irresistible. Bewitches with hope, romance and heart.” Guardian



__Assisted Performances__


Relaxed: Thurs 10 Oct 7:30pm.


Captioned: Thurs 26 Sept 7:30pm / Sat 5 Oct 2:30pm


Audio Described: Sat 28 Sept 2:30pm / Thurs 3 Oct 7:30pm.


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Review: THE REAL ONES, Bush Theatre
by Katie Kirkpatrick - Sep 13, 2024


At once intimate and expansive, The Real Ones follows the friendship of Zaid and Neelam from age nineteen to thirty-six. Once kindred spirits, moving in sync, they fall out of step when the harsh reality of adult life sends them in different directions. Waleed Akhtar (Olivier winner for The P Word) pens a sharply observed look into whether platonic love can last.

London Theatre Week Extends Due to Demand
by Stephi Wild - Sep 3, 2024


Due to demand, London Theatre Week is extending as it continues to celebrate the West End's theatrical scene. From Monday September 2nd theatre fans can continue to shop exclusively priced tickets starting at just £15.

Photos: THE REAL ONES Begins Rehearsal at the Bush Theatre
by Stephi Wild - Aug 19, 2024


The Real Ones, a funny and honest love letter to platonic soulmates will have its world premiere production at the Bush Theatre from 6 September. Check out rehearsal photos here!

London Theatre Week Launches With Over 75 Shows
by Stephi Wild - Aug 19, 2024


London Theatre Week is set to make a  return with its celebration of the West End's vibrant theatrical scene. From Monday 19th August, theatre fans can shop exclusively priced tickets starting at just £15 via TodayTix.

Review: THE PROM at Chagrin Valley Little Theatre
by Roy Berko - Aug 5, 2024


In 2010 a gay Mississippi high school student was banned from going to her senior prom by the school’s Board of Education because she wanted to bring her girlfriend as her date.  She challenged the ruling, which resulted in the cancellation of the prom.  The student and the ACLU sued the district.  The federal court found the school district guilty of violating the student’s first amendment rights and said the prom must be held.  

Nathaniel Curtis, Mariam Haque and Anthony Howell Lead THE REAL ONES At Bush Theatre
by A.A. Cristi - Jul 12, 2024


Casting for THE REAL ONES, Waleed Akhtar's world premiere at Bush Theatre, has been announced. The play explores themes of identity and belonging, featuring a diverse and talented cast.

Bush Theatre Reveals Season Lineup For Second Half of 2024
by Stephi Wild - May 1, 2024


Bush Theatre has announced productions for the second half of 2024. Learn more about the full lineup here!

JT Of City Girls Drops Solo Track 'Sideways'
by Michael Major - Feb 2, 2024


JT is releasing the record and video for her solo song “Sideways” (Quality Control Music/Motown). One half of the renowned hip-hop duo City Girls with Yung Miami, “Sideways” comes off the success of her solo single “No Bars” which sold more than 100k and amassed 30.2 million streams. Watch the new music video!

Interview: Heidi Blickenstaff of JAGGED LITTLE PILL NATIONAL TOUR at Orpheum Theatre
by Jared Fessler - Aug 10, 2023


We chat with Heidi Blickenstaff who plays Mary Jane Healy in the national tour of Jagged Little Pill.  Joy, love, heartache, strength, wisdom, catharsis, life — everything we’ve been waiting to see in a Broadway show — is here in the exhilarating, fearless new musical based on Alanis Morissette’s world-changing music.

Guz Khan Will Embark on UK Tour in January and February 2024
by Stephi Wild - Jul 21, 2023


Coventry's finest, Guz Khan, is bringing his big-screen persona and BAFTA-nominated hilarity back on the road for 2024. Due to popular demand Guz is adding more opportunities for you to see him on his kick-ass comedy tour. 

Fall Out Boy Release New Song 'Heartbreak Feels So Good' from Forthcoming Album' So Much (For) Stardust'
by Michael Major - Jan 25, 2023


GRAMMY Award-nominated and multi-platinum selling rock band Fall Out Boy are offering another glimpse into their highly anticipated new album So Much (For) Stardust with the drop of a brand new song “Heartbreak Feels So Good” – listen everywhere now and watch the music video now. The song is from their eighth studio album So Much (For) Stardust.

Review: THE CRY OF THE PEACOCK at Batesville Community Theatre Blurs The Lines Of Reality
by Theresa Bertram - Oct 26, 2022


What did our critic think of THE CRY OF THE PEACOCK at Batesville Community Theatre?

The Hooten Hallers Release New Album 'Back in Business Again'
by Michael Major - Sep 9, 2022


Produced by bassist Dominic Davis (Jack White, Greensky Bluegrass), Back In Business Again takes a match to The Hooten Hallers’ fuse and explodes the renegade power trio to the edge and back again, one vigorous, swinging, perfectly peculiar song at a time. Recorded in St. Louis at Native Sound, Back In Business Again has a fierce hometown spirit.

Review Roundup: THE KITE RUNNER Opens On Broadway!
by A.A. Cristi - Jul 21, 2022


The stage adaptation of the classic novel The Kite Runner opens tonight night on Broadway. The show will run through October 30 at The Hayes Theater (240 West 44th Street). Read the reviews!

Simone Istwa Shares 'Kiss Everyone' Single & Video
by Sarah Jae Leiber - Jun 3, 2021


Simone Istwa was born into music. When your parents are Sam Phillips and T Bone Burnett, life revolves around the masterful creation of pop records with a pre-digital approach. But starting at a young age, Istwa mined for their own left-of-center sounds.

Simone Istwa Debuts 'So Sure' Video
by Sarah Jae Leiber - Apr 15, 2021


Simone Istwa was born into music. When your parents are Sam Phillips and T Bone Burnett, life revolves around the masterful creation of pop records with a pre-digital approach.

THE LONELY ONES Release New Single 'Real Big Trouble'
by Sarah Jae Leiber - Oct 22, 2020


Hard rock band The Lonely Ones released their brand new single 'Real Big Trouble' to all digital outlets.

Diet Cig Release New Song 'Night Terrors'
by Abigail Charpentier - Jan 27, 2020


Diet Cig are back! Today the critically-acclaimed duo of Alex Luciano (guitar and vocals) and Noah Bowman (drums) return with a new song “Night Terrors” - their first bit of music since 2017 when they released their debut album Swear I'm Good At This. Of “Night Terrors” Alex notes, “This song centers around my very real and frequent experiences with night terrors and other bizarre sleep activity. If we're close enough to have ever shared a room, you know what I'm talking about. This song goes out to you.

OUTSIDE ETHEL: INSIDE - A Clown Dramedy At The Toronto Fringe Festival!
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 7, 2019


Christine Moynihan has spent the last 35 years as a celebrated arts administrator - 15 years as the Executive Producer at Equity Showcase Theatre, 10 years as the Executive Director at the Dance Umbrella of Ontario and 10 years as an independent arts administrator - winning both the Brenda Donohue Award (1994) for outstanding contribution to the Toronto theatre community and a Harold Award (2000) for outstanding service to Toronto's independent theatre and dance communities.

Fall Out Boy Announces Comprehensive Career-Spanning Vinyl Box Set THE COMPLETE STUDIO ALBUMS
by Macon Prickett - Jul 27, 2018


Following their electrifying early morning performance of their hits 'The Last of The Real Ones,' 'Uma Thurman' and 'My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light Em Up)' in NYC's Central Park for Good Morning America's 'Summer Concert Series' today (watch the full set here, including online exclusives 'Champion' and 'Centuries'), multiplatinum modern alt-rock pioneers Fall Out Boy have announced they will release all seven of their studio albums on vinyl as a lavish box set titled The Complete Studio Albums on September 28 via Island/DCD2/UMe. Spanning the band's storied and wildly successful 15-years-and-counting recording career, the comprehensive collection contains all of Fall Out Boy's best-selling studio albums, starting with the band's 2003 pop-punk debut, Take This To Your Grave, including 2005's career-defining double-platinum hit platter, From Under The Cork Tree, and capping off with their most recent album M A N I A which earned the band their fourth No. 1 record upon release this past January. This must-have on-wax collection also includes 2013's combo Save Rock And Roll (PAX•AM Edition) for the first time ever on 12-inch vinyl. The Complete Studio Albums will be made available in two versions - a standard edition on 180-gram black vinyl, and as a limited-edition, 180-gram clear vinyl collection. View the unboxing video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Prlrcqdr07k

THE WLDLFE Share New Single REAL ONES From Forthcoming Album Out This Summer
by Macon Prickett - Mar 23, 2018


Today, the Indianapolis based band THE WLDLFE share their single 'Real Ones', the second new track from their forthcoming summer release, following 'I Don't Mind', which recently debuted on Valentine's Day and has been featured in Spotify's 'New Music Friday' playlist. 'Real Ones' premiered yesterday viaMXDWN.

VIDEO: Fall Out Boy Performs 'The Last of the Real Ones' on JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE
by Emily Bruno - Sep 19, 2017


Fall Out Boy took to the JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE stage to perform their new single 'The Last of the Real Ones.' The single will be featured on their new album, M A N I A, out January 19, 2018.

BWW Review: HER OPPONENT Recreates Clinton/Trump Debates With Genders Switched
by Michael Dale - May 11, 2017


As it pertains to the 2016 presidential election, the title HER OPPONANT doesn't necessarily refer to Donald Trump. As the first woman to top the ticket of one of America's major political parties, the name of co-creators Joe Salvatore (who also directs) and Maria Guadalupe's fascinating theatre piece could also refer to a number of Hillary Clinton's opponents, such as the public's lingering prejudices against women, the perception of her as an elitist Washington insider or just being a politician cursed with accusations of not being likeable.

Broadway By Design: Beowulf Boritt and Toni-Leslie James Bring COME FROM AWAY from Page to Stage
by Nicole Rosky - Apr 16, 2017


In Broadway by Design, BroadwayWorld will be shining a spotlight on the stellar designs of this Broadway season, show by show. Today, we continue the series with Beowulf Boritt and Toni-Leslie James , who acted as scenic and costume designers for Broadway's big story about a small town, COME FROM AWAY.

BWW Review: BIG FISH Is Storytelling At Its Best
by Marietta Lunceford - Sep 14, 2015


Theatre is about telling stories. BIG FISH at Red Mountain Theatre Company Cabaret is full of stories, both large and small. It tells the stories of the Bloom family, both the exaggerated ones of Edward, the father and the real ones of Will, the son. Or are they all real- you be the judge. Family, faith in yourself and life, and pure entertainment make up a very memorable evening when you see BIG FISH.  The show runs through October 4 and is worth making the time to see. Go to redmountaintheatre.org or call 205-324-2424.

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