Alaa Shehada's solo show The Bridge, a Fringe First winner in Edinburgh this summer, comes to the Bush Theatre on 28 October for a two-week run. Tickets start at £15 and are on sale now.
The Bridge runs at the Bush Theatre from Wednesday 28 October to Wednesday 11 November 2026, with press night on Monday 2 November at 7pm. It is a short run, at a little over two weeks.
It is Shehada's second visit to the Bush in two years. His previous show, The Horse of Jenin, also won a Scotsman Fringe First and sold out there last year. The Bridge took its own Fringe First at this year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where it added three extra performances in August.
Shehada wrote the piece and performs it alone, and co-wrote it with its director, Sam Beale. It follows a yearly errand. His mother in Jenin sends olive oil from his grandfather's trees to her sister in Amman, and Shehada carries it there himself in a large yellow container. The road runs over 'the bridge' in the Jordan Valley, the only crossing West Bank Palestinians are allowed to use to leave and come back, and the container leaks the whole way: through the checkpoints, through the occupation and on into Jordan.
Other travellers join him along the route. The show mixes storytelling, stand-up and physical comedy, and puts a story of family, hope and joy alongside the colonial history of the region and the promises Britain made in Palestine and did not keep.
Movement direction is by Micaela Miranda, with music and sound design by Julius Pollux Rothlaender and lighting by Lily Dawford. Charlotte Knowles produces for Palestine Comedy Club, the company Knowles set up with Shehada and Beale to make comedy and theatre with Palestinian artists, which presents the run in association with the Bush.
Evening performances are Monday to Saturday at 7.30pm. There are 2.30pm matinees on Saturday 31 October, Wednesday 4 November, Saturday 7 November and Wednesday 11 November. The Saturday 7 November matinee is a relaxed performance, Monday 9 November at 7.30pm is captioned, and Tuesday 10 November at 7.30pm is audio-described, with a touch tour.
Tickets for The Bridge are priced from £15 to £35. Concessions take £5 off any standard ticket over £20, and under-30s and local residents can save up to £10 with the Bush's free membership.
