“Hilarious, original and intriguing” - BAFTA Rocliffe New Writing Showcase.
Drama. Chaos. One stolen phone.
Erica wasn't planning to start a crime spree. Then she met Jessie.
Now it's late nights, big ideas, and time to get even - because when the world keeps pushing you down, sometimes you push back. Hard.
What is WANTED?
WANTED is a queer crime-caper set against the nostalgic backdrop of the late 2000s lesbian scene, exploring how the criminal justice system treats women differently based on class and race.
It's an LGBTQ+ and neurodiverse-led show from female & disability led production company, Bush Productions, with four phenomenal actors and one big mission: to flip the script on crime, identity, and survival.
WANTED has been in the making for three years. That’s longer than some relationships and political careers.
But Why Is It Really Important?
Because this isn’t just theatre. It’s real life. WANTED is based on true events - the kind that happen when the criminal justice system fails the very people it’s meant to protect. Our characters are labelled criminals, but they were first victims themselves.
Up to 90% of justice-involved youth report exposure to some type of traumatic event. This is a pattern. A loop. A stat that keeps showing up. The "victim-offender cycle"
We’re using storytelling to break the cycle.
A Bit About The Story...
WANTED is loosely inspired by the extraordinary and brutally honest real-life experiences of our writer-performer, Eleanor Higgins - who is, for the first time, going public with this chapter of her past. That takes serious guts (and a very understanding team).
We believe in talking about the things we’re told to hide, especially the parts we’re ashamed of. Because understanding what leads people, especially women, into criminal behaviour helps us prevent it.
Who Is Eleanor Higgins?
She is the founder and creative director of Bush Productions, a company dedicated to amplifying LGBTQ+ voices and stories that actively reflect lived experience.
Her acclaimed solo-show, In PurSUEt, debuted at the Edinburgh Fringe earning critical praise for its blend of humour, heartbreak and just enough chaos.
WANTED, has already caught attention too. It was longlisted for the Verity Bargate Award and shortlist recommended for the Untapped Award.
Beyond The Fringe: We've Got Big Plans
Once the glitter and flyering haze of the Fringe is over, we’re not done. We want to:
- Tour UK prisons with the show.
- Run workshops with women who’ve been incarcerated or are victims of crime.
- Create a platform for storytelling that lets people reclaim their narratives.
- Aim to engage residents, especially young creatives, to create more regular cultural activity on local estates.
So... What Happened?
Let’s rip the plaster off: Our funding fell through. Cue dramatic music and frantic budgeting spreadsheets.
We were almost ready to press “go,” but now we’re in emergency talks with the venue and the Fringe Society… and facing the very real possibility of cancelling.
That's where you come in.
What Will You Money Do?
Your donations will go directly to:
- Venue costs
- Publicity and PR
- Cast and creative team fees
- Marketing and printing
- Travel and logistics
- Tech, lighting and sound
- Set, props and costume
- Accommodation for cast
- Community outreach
- Workshops with local residents & prison leavers
Plus, it helps people with lived experience of the justice system feel part of something creative, connected, and affirming. Which is everything.
The Bigger Picture
This show isn’t just about the Fringe. It’s about:
- Starting conversations.
- Working with the formally incarcerated and victims of crime.
- Building empathy.
- Changing the narrative around crime and recovery.
- Creating jobs and roles for people who are too often ignored in this industry.
Your support = a step toward more inclusive, authentic, and diverse stories on our stages.
How Can I help?
Easy! Here’s how:
1. Donate (any amount helps — seriously, even a fiver)
2. Buy one of our fab rewards (we’ve got goodies!)
3. SHARE this page with everyone you know.
Tell your mates. Your nan. Your dog walker. That person from Hinge you stopped replying to.
If everyone who sees this can spare £10, we will reach our target.
THANK YOU!
We can’t do this without you. And we don’t want to do it any other way. From all of us at WANTED - thank you for reading, donating, sharing, and believing in the power of theatre to do more than entertain.
See you in Edinburgh. Or a prison. Or maybe both.
