On my radar: Lynette Linton’s cultural highlights

The Bush theatre’s artistic director on how Bridgerton, a hilarious internet dating show and an incredible debut novel are feeding her obsession with love

Lynette Linton was born in east London in 1990 and started writing and directing for the stage after joining the National Youth Theatre in her early 20s. Her three produced plays include Step and Hashtag Lightie and she won rave reviews for directing Lynn Nottage’s Sweat at the Donmar in 2018. The following year, aged just 28, she became the artistic director of the Bush theatre in west London. Linton’s production of House of Ife, the first show in the Bush’s 50th birthday season, opens on 29 April. She has also directed an adaptation of Kit de Waal’s novel My Name Is Leon, airing on BBC One later this year. In September, she will make her National Theatre directing debut with Pearl Cleage’s Blues for an Alabama Sky.

1. Album

Untidy Soul by Samm Henshaw

Watch the video for Joy by Samm Henshaw.

I’m a bit obsessed with this album by the London artist Samm Henshaw. I saw him at the Shepherd’s Bush Apollo recently and he was just brilliant on stage. He sings beautiful R&B love songs, mixing together old-school and new-school. They’re the songs that I play to get me up in the morning. He’s really big in the US, but he should be much bigger over here, so I’m shouting him out. If you’re into Frank Ocean, you’d be into Samm Henshaw. I can’t stop listening to him.

2. TV

Bridgerton (Netflix)

I binge-watched Bridgerton recently and it was really lovely. It’s such a great form of escapism. It’s set in Regency-era London, when there were so many rules in the society to do with courting, and that’s what makes it so romantic and sexy, because people can’t get together so easily. It’s great to see hard-working actors such as Jonathan Bailey and Adjoa Andoh getting proper recognition and it’s nice to be able to just sit and watch a love story unfold.

3. Book

Honey & Spice by Bolu Babalola
I really enjoy Babalola’s writing. She’s an incredible writer of fiction, with a real Twitter presence. She writes stories about love, particularly black love. Her debut collection, Love in Colour, adapted different myths from around the world. Now she’s publishing her first novel, Honey & Spice [5 July] and they’re describing it as “the romcom of the decade”. I’ve got a bit of an obsession about love at the minute so I’m really excited to delve into this. We need more love in our lives.

4. Food

Toyin’s Kitchen, Shepherd’s Bush, London W12

This is a brilliant Nigerian food stall in Shepherd’s Bush market, which is right next to the Bush theatre. Everybody who works at the Bush is always going there for lunch – I go at least twice a week. The owner, Toyin, is incredible. She does stews and curries and you get jollof rice and plantain and salad in massive portions. For me, it’s all about the coconut prawn curry. It’s very, very good. If you’re ever in Shepherd’s Bush, you should go.

5. Podcast

Dead Ass with Khadeen and Devale Ellis

Khadeen and Devale Ellis are an African American married couple based in Brooklyn. They became Instagram-famous and now they do a podcast with relationship advice and what it’s like being parents in their mid-30s. I followed them for a long time before they blew up and now they’ve got four young boys. They’re really cool and down to earth. I like turning them on sometimes and listening to them banter with each other. They talk about how to raise a family, but also how to keep intimacy in a relationship when you’ve been together for so long. #couplegoals is probably the best way to describe this.

6. Internet show

Does the Shoe Fit?

I’m really enjoying a lot of what YouTubers Chunkz and Yung Filly are doing at the minute. They have a channel with [shoe shop chain] Footasylum, which includes a dating show called Does the Shoe Fit?, among other stuff. The dating show is young and fresh and really funny. In each episode, they’re joined by guests such as the rapper Konan and Jack Fowler from Love Island and each of them goes on a speed date with the same woman, while the other three watch and comment. It’s unbelievably hilarious.

7. Dance

BOYS at the Barbican

This is a show exploring masculinity through movement. I’m a theatre director, but text is my anchor. What they’ve managed to do with BOYS is kind of the opposite: using physicality and movement to show fragility and vulnerability in men, specifically men of colour. It’s such a beautiful show.

Contributor

Killian Fox

The GuardianTramp

Related Content

Article image
On my radar: Mandip Gill’s cultural highlights
The Doctor Who actor on her R&B obsession, the magic of Matt Haig and the Wagamama dish she has three times a week

Michael Hogan

18, Dec, 2021 @3:00 PM

Article image
On my radar: Susan Wokoma’s cultural highlights
The Crazyhead and Chewing Gum actor on a podcast about grief, some mind-blowing electronica, and the perfect pre-theatre venue

Kathryn Bromwich

27, Aug, 2017 @9:00 AM

Article image
On my radar: Rosie Holt’s cultural highlights
The satirist on her favourite superhero show, her go-to gym motivation music, and why she loves Tim Key

Kathryn Bromwich

09, Jul, 2022 @2:00 PM

Article image
On my radar: Lesley Sharp’s cultural highlights
The actor on her love of dance, the reality TV series Below Deck and what helps her to write

Kathryn Bromwich

24, Jun, 2023 @2:00 PM

Article image
On my radar: Val McDermid’s cultural highlights
The bestselling crime writer on exploring the Belgian coast, deep-diving into the middle ages and an enlightening exhibition of female Scottish artists

Kathryn Bromwich

12, Aug, 2023 @2:00 PM

Article image
On my radar: Phelim McDermott’s cultural highlights
The actor and theatre director on a thrilling cabaret show, Alan Garner’s potent new novel and being a secret believer in fairies

Killian Fox

01, Oct, 2022 @2:00 PM

Article image
On my radar: Thomasina McKenzie’s cultural highlights
The New Zealand actor on compelling Korean TV, a chilling true-crime podcast and sticky eggplant with quinoa

Killian Fox

24, Oct, 2021 @10:30 AM

Article image
On my radar: Margo Price’s cultural highlights
The US country star on learning a new instrument at 40, her favourite place to eat in Nashville and an app she’s happy to have send her to sleep

Kathryn Bromwich

20, Jan, 2024 @3:00 PM

Article image
On my radar: Gretchen Rubin's cultural highlights
The American writer and happiness guru on Dolly Parton, the power of hearing – and focusing on wellbeing during the pandemic

Kadish Morris

02, Jan, 2021 @3:00 PM

Article image
On my radar: Nadiya Hussain’s cultural highlights
The food presenter and author on Disney role models, huge hot chocolates​ and the music she listens to in the bath​

Kathryn Bromwich

12, Mar, 2022 @5:03 PM