Rush live inspires and excites

London's Playhouse Theatre was the venue of choice for Rush Hair's fourth annual charity event, Rush Live. International creative director, Stell Andrew got the audience ready for a night of inspiration in aid of the Great Ormond Street Street Hospital HAIRraising campaign. 

Making a guest appearance, Oristé from boy band JLS, thanked partners Stell, Andy, George and the Rush Hair team for raising more than £100,000 for GOSH in the last five years. Lesley Miles, GOSH director of marketing and communication, took to the stage to also express her gratitude before showing a short film that illustrated exactly where the money raised has been invested.

The audience was then invited to dive into the world of colour as international colour director, Chris Williams and the Rush colour team showcased their talent live on stage. Triggered by a recent exhibition of repetition and symmetry together with the appreciation of gemstones, the team prepared a striking new collection highlighting an eclectic range of techniques.

While the colour developed, the Rush session team headed by editorial director Tina Farey and consisting of Sammy B, Isabella Hyde and Jamie Benny, presented a collection of raw shapes deconstructed, as inspired by the architect Gordon Matta Clarke.

Offering a consumer-friendly alternative, the Workshop Team took to the stage showcasing a collection as part of the You by Rush campaign, that could easily be taken back and translated into salon-friendly looks before International Creative Director Andy Heasman and Chris Williams offered an inspirational take on a classic shape. Working in circular patterns, they produced a playful collection where static movement created a 4D effect on the hair.

The grand finale saw inspiration from Givenchy, for their symmetrical advertising campaign and Prada, for their colourful dip dyes, 1970s print and geometric patterns. The team sculpted a stunning representation of beauty within their collection, entangling complementary and contrasting symmetrical shapes, mirror images and versatility in cut and colour. Andy said: "It's about mixing purity with vision, about cutting with freshness. It's about progression. Fashion changes. So does hair."