CASE STUDY:
Turning a retired single-decker bus into an award-winning mobile theatre and creative space.
The Theatre Bath Bus grew from a simple but ambitious idea: rather than always asking audiences to come into established theatre buildings, could we take theatre directly to them?
Co-founded with Zoe Bailey, the project transformed a former First Bus vehicle into a flexible venue for performances, workshops and community activity. It combined creative production, technical design, fundraising, partnership working and a considerable amount of practical problem-solving.
The finished Bus travelled to schools, festivals and community events, supported young performers and local organisations, and later became an award-winning venue at the Edinburgh Fringe.
Theatre Bath Bus
Co-founder and Co-director
2016–2018
Bath, the South West and Edinburgh
Theatre, Community Arts and Cultural Development
Creative Producing, Technical Design, Production Management, Fundraising, Partnerships and Event Delivery
The aim was to create a small but fully functioning theatre that could travel to communities, festivals and locations where conventional performance spaces were unavailable or unsuitable.
That meant converting a retired single-decker bus into somewhere capable of hosting live performances and workshops while working within an extremely limited budget and a very restricted physical footprint.
The project needed more than a stage. It required lighting and sound systems, power distribution, audience seating, a box office, technical and dressing areas, storage, ventilation, show relay and practical operating procedures. Everything had to be compact, safe and robust enough to work in different locations.
At the same time, we needed to build support for an unconventional idea, raise the money to complete it and create a programme that demonstrated why a mobile venue could make a meaningful difference.
As Co-founder and Co-director, I was involved throughout the project: from developing the original concept and raising support through to planning the conversion, installing technical systems and operating the finished venue.
The work brought together many parts of my professional experience. I was simultaneously acting as a creative producer, production manager, technical designer, fundraiser, venue manager and advocate for the wider purpose of the project.
The Theatre Bath Bus became a working example of what can happen when creative ambition is supported by practical technical knowledge and sustained collaboration.
It travelled beyond conventional theatre settings, supported performances and workshops, worked with community organisations and gave young performers an unusual platform for presenting their work. It also travelled to the Edinburgh Fringe with Zenith Youth Theatre and received recognition both there and in Bath.
I have worked in community arts and theatre for over 30 years – in that time I have not met many people as dedicated, interested, insightful and hard-working as Luke. He also works as a lighting designer and technician. Thankfully, his days in the dark don’t stop him from seeing the bigger picture…”
I help turn ambitious and unconventional creative ideas into practical projects – combining producing, technical planning and calm delivery from the first conversation onwards.