Abdul Shayek - shock passing of leading theatre director (will be updated)

Tara Theatre release statement that stuns…

MANY in theatre world are just learning of the news that one of its brightest and most able stars is no more.

Abdul Shayek, the artistic director of Tara Theatre in south London, succumbed to natural causes. He was 39.

Tara Theatre announced his passing at around 8pm last night.
https://twitter.com/TaraTheatre/status/1686815695177396224

The statement from Tara Theatre posted
on X and Instagram last night

It also posted the devasting news on Instagram.

His sad passing has already brought scores of tributes and we will cover this story in due course.

We all here at www.asianculturevulture.com are deeply saddened and shocked by this news. Our hearts go out to his family and everyone at Tara who were lucky enough to come into his orbit.

Shayek was a glorious light not just as a theatre professional but as a human being and he was to many, very much the future of theatre.

Shayek’s direction and knowhow in dealing with the subject enabled a seamless transition from broadcast and written text – first uncovered by BBC journalist Kavita Puri in her radio documentary, ‘Partition Voices’ – to hit stage adaptation (with four leading South Asian writers also assisting), first at the Donmar Warehouse in London and then Tara Theatre. Plans were well under way for ‘Silence’ to return to theatres, we understand.

On a more personal note, there was a wonderful energy and spirit about him and his ability to engage and enthral other theatremakers, especially, was among his special attributes, and we saw this up close and personal when we covered the Moongate Mix talk which brought Asian creatives together – see the link below.

More prominently, acv also covered ‘Silence’ – a play which dealt brilliantly with the fissures of Partition – still a difficult subject for many whose families were directly affected by it.

Suman Bhuchar, acv’s Associate Editor, was among those paying short tribute last night itself. In deep shock, she said: “I have no words” and on Instagram lamented that “he had so much to give”.

She interviewed him shortly after his appointment – http://asianculturevulture.com/portfolios/tara-arts-new-head-abdul-shayek-outlines-vision-for-more-diverse-inclusive-and-imaginative-theatre-in-the-uk/

Momtaz Begum-Hossain, craft and colour expert and special presenter for acv, also took to X this morning to offer her deepest condolences.

She said it was “an immense loss to the arts in the UK and beyond.”

We will be updating this story and when…

Previously