World Premiere of ARTHUR'S WORLD Set for Bush Theatre

The Bush Theatre will host the premiere of Arthur's World, produced by Kensal House-based charity SPID Theatre, from 27 January to 14 February 2015, in its upstairs theatre space the Bush Attic. Arthur's World is written by SPID Theatre Artistic Director Helena Thompson and directed by Mel Cook.

Arthur is an OAP, hiding out from the world in his grotty top floor council flat. He'd move - if it weren't for his missing son. Today is Michael's birthday - will he finally come home? But the person Arthur finally lets in turns out to be someone else entirely. This teenager is seeking refuge from The Fights - the raging riots sparked years ago by a notorious computer game. As reality floods Arthur's tiny world, he is forced to face facts - did the son he loves ever even exist?

The Bush Attic is a 40-seat studio space at the top of the old library building used for rehearsals, research and development, and also works as a community space. In 2013 The Bush Attic played host to HighTide Festival Theatre's production of Moth by Declan Greene, produced by David Luff Productions in association with the Bush Theatre.

Paul Greenwood played Grandfather in Adrian Noble's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang tour. Other theatre credits include Theatre Royal, Nottingham Theatre, New Vic Theatre and the Finborough. He has performed in the television shows Casualty and Midsomer Murders. He starred in the cult film Frightmare, the comedy TV series Rosie, and the children's series Captain Kronos.

Enyi Okoronkwo trained at Central School of Speech and Drama and Queen Mary University. Shows he has performed in include The Merchant of Venice, Uncle Vanya and Blue Stockings. He also works as a writer and director. Last year he wrote Freddie Starr Ate My Hamster, presented by Black Rubix Theatre.

Joseph Tremain made his West End stage début in a production of The Full Monty at the age of 10. He is best known for starring in the children's television series Morris 2274 for Fivetelevision. He has also appeared in an episode of Half Moon Investigations for the BBC. Recent roles include Paulie Crickle in Secret Cinema presents: Back to the Future (2014) and Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet.

Supporting roles are recordings of young people from SPID's Kensal House estate outreach programme.

Helena Thompson founded SPID (Specially Produced Innovatively Directed) in order to reinvent community theatre for non-traditional spaces. The charity is based in the historic modernist council estate of Kensal House where it runs a wraparound youth programme for disadvantaged teenagers. SPID's work does not necessarily take on place on stage, but brings audiences together using immersive, participatory, promenade or site specific techniques. It creates youth shows, professional shows, youth films and tours. Prizes include Time Out Critic's Choice, Fringe Report's Best Outreach Company and ITV First Light Best Film Award.

Helena is also Artistic Director of SPID Theatre. She studied scriptwriting under David Edgar at Birmingham University. Her plays Bluebeard's Wives (ICA) and Open House (the List's festival highlight of the year and Time Out Critic's Choice) are published by Plays International. Her short film High above the Sky has two distribution deals, three prizes and over 20 festival screenings worldwide. She was on the National Theatre's attachment scheme and writes afternoon plays for Radio 4. Arthur's World has been produced and developed by SPID and will be published by Oberon. The script was originally part of the Bush's commissioning process in 2011.

Mel Cook is an experiential theatre maker. She has created festival work for Latitude, Glastonbury, LIFT, and Hide & Seek, and developed site-sympathetic work for Shunt Vaults, BAC, V&A, and The Lowry. She is Associate Director for SPID and Coney. Mel has been a finalist for the JMK, ITV, C4, Arches, Bankside, and Leverhulme directing awards. Credits include Southwark Playhouse, Arcola and Finborough.

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