This month’s theatre offerings range from themes of masculinity, art and integrity, life changing moments and adventures for children and following your dreams…
By Suman Bhuchar
Bhaijaan – Two friends wrestling with their dreams
LOOSELY translated as ‘Dear Brother’, ‘Bhaijaan’ is the full length debut play by writer, Abir Mohammad.
It enjoyed a two-day showcase at the Hope Theatre, Islington, which was so successful that it now returns to the venue on a short run (see listing details below).
www.asianculturevulture.com spoke with Mohammad and asked him a bit about the play. “It centres round two teenage best friends, Khafi and Zain, who are at the cusp of taking their GCSE’s, but because of the constrictive nature of Ilford, and their conservative religious families, both boys strive to leave to live their (professional) wrestling dreams”, he explained.
The pair sign up for trails at the local wrestling centre and the play follows their journey training and studying.
“It’s a story about toxic masculinity within South Asian culture/Islam, centring on two boys who are clouded by violence, religion and the need to be a man.”
The initial run was directed by Samir Mahat who now plays the role of Zain, while Khafi is played by Rubayet Al Sharif. Bhaijaan is now directed and produced by Mohammad.
Warnings include mentions of grief, death, sexual and physical assault.
March 11-15 (7.45pm)
Hope & Anchor (pub) 207 Upper Street, Islington, London N1 1RL.
https://www.thehopetheatre.com/bhaijaan
Retrograde – stepping back into time
WRITTEN by Ryan Calais Cameron and directed by Amit Sharma, artistic director at the Kiln, this is another play that is returning due to popular demand. It was Sharma’s debut at the venue where it enjoyed a sold out run and it has now transferred to the West End.
Set during the 1950s America, this is a powerful three hander which tells the story of a young actor Sidney Poitier (1927-2022) who is about to get his big break but is being pushed by a Hollywood producer to denounce the iconic black actor Paul Robeson (1898-1976).
‘Retrograde’ deals with themes of how far would you go for art and integrity – or would you sell out if you got a chance to get a big break. The play is engrossing and actor Ivanno Jeremiah reprises his role as Poitier, while Oliver Johnstone plays Bobby a writer, whose script could land Poitier a meaty role; and Stanley Townsend is Mr Parks, the larger than life producer.
March 8 – June 14
Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1D 7EZ.
https://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/retrograde/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwvr–BhB5EiwAd5YbXkQjbT9cUQrvLGJNZYAbuc2_JqH-t1tjqgCv8Bf2iA38umChZSfFbhoCcawQAvD_BwE
My Neighbour Totoro – Delighting adults and children alike
ANOTHER show making a welcome return is the Royal Shakespeare Company’s, ‘My Neighbour Totoro’, a production based on the film by Hiyao Miyazaki and animated by the famous Studio Ghibli – best known for its animated features.
Set in 1950s Japan, sisters, Satsuki and Mei move to the countryside because their ailing mother is recovering in a rural convalescent hospital.
The house they live in is populated by ‘soot spirits’ and there are other magical creatures in the country including one named ‘Totoro’ and this explores the power of imagination.
‘My Neighbour Totoro’ has received six Olivier Awards and five What’s On Stage awards and really is a magical and fantastical show suitable for anyone aged six or more.
From (March 8) through to November (currently).
The Gillian Lyne Theatre, 166 Drury Ln, London WC2B 5PW
https://totoroshow.com/
Festival and new work from Kali Theatre
ONE OF THE UK’S leading theatre outfits presents Seedlings, along with New Earth Theatre and Tara Theatre for one day only and near the end of this month. It is a mini-festival of similar themed plays.
Earlier this year, Helena Bell, artistic director of Kali Theatre passed away suddenly. ACV will be covering this story in more detail, but in her memory, the company will continue to showcase the programme of work she put together. Seedlings is a day-long festival (11.30am-7pm) that will focus on how art can be a vehicle for climate justice and deal with how the ‘Climate Emergency’, affects us, and what we can do to make a difference.
The programme will be a mixture of performance and discussion, inviting the audience to help shape a better world “and give voice to those disproportionately affected by the climate crisis”.
New Earth Theatre will present a devised work-in-progress inspired by ‘The Nutmeg’s Curse’ by novelist Amitav Ghosh, drawing on stories of our natural environments and a presentation by theatre maker, Jennifer Taillefer on sustainability in the Performing Arts.
Kali Theatre will present three new short plays on the devastating impact of climate change.
‘New Doggerland’ by Sayan Kent; ‘2120’ by Ilina Jha and ‘Goldilocks’ by Atiha Sen Gupta. These powerful stories ask how we can imagine more hopeful futures.
Tara Theatre will offer some new work in progress exploring climate colonialism, western apathy, and activists seeking reparations for the Global South.
Seedlings, Saturday, March 29 from 11.30am-7pm
Tara Theatre, 356 Garratt Lane, London SW18 4ES
https://kalitheatre.co.uk/productions/seedlings-a-climate-theatre-festival-for-the-curious-and-the-hopeful/
Sisters 360 – Renowned thespian delves into skateboarding
WRITER-ACTOR Asif Khan’s new play for children is inspired by real-life skateboarding sisters Layna, Maysa and Amaya, and their hero Olympic Medallist Sky Brown.
“The play (‘Sisters 360’) is about ambition and dreams and working hard to achieve those dreams. If you put in the hard work, you can achieve anything. I watched lots of footage of Sky Brown at the Olympics (British Japanese skateboarder and surfer) who is spectacular,” said Khan.
“Adventure, comedy and magic” is how he describes his story about Fatima and Salima the coolest, hijabi step-sisters in all of Bradford, who set out to win the Tiny is Mighty skateboarding competition.
From March 22 – April 27
Polka Theatre, 240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London SW19 1SB
https://polkatheatre.com/event/sisters-360/
ALSO touring to Leeds Playhouse (May 7-10)
Leeds Playhouse, Playhouse Square, Quarry Hill, Leeds
LS2 7UP
https://www.leedsplayhouse.org.uk/event/sisters-360/instances/
Shirley Valentine with Mina Anwar in lead role continues
A BOLTON Octagon production which relocates the classic Northern Comedy story about Liverpool housewife, Shirley Valentine to Lancashire, with the role played by Mina Anwar is enjoying a limited tour.
Shirley is bored of making egg and chips for her husband, while he sits in the front room watching telly and she talks to the wall. So one day, she leaves a note on the kitchen table and goes on a life-changing holiday to Greece….
(March 12)-22 Dukes Theatre, Moor Ln, Lancaster LA1 1QE
April 1-5 The Grand Theatre, 33 Church St, Blackpool FY1 1HT
April 8-26 Leeds Playhouse, Playhouse Square, Quarry Hill, Leeds
LS2 7UP
Ticket-venue details:
https://dukeslancaster.org/whats-on/theatre/shirley-valentine
https://www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk/event/shirley-valentine
https://www.leedsplayhouse.org.uk/event/shirley-valentine/
The Seagull – Cate Blanchett, Priyanga Burford, Paul Bazely hot ticket
THIS classic Chekhov play has been given a modern makeover by German director Thomas Ostermeier and features (film) actor and two-time Oscar winner, Cate Blanchett as Irina Arkádina, a self-centred actress who goes to visit her ailing brother Sorin (Jason Watkins) in their country estate, along with her lover, the writer Trigorin (Tom Burke). That is the basic story.
Paul Bazely plays the doctor, Evgeny Dorn and Priyanga Burford is the neglected estate manager’s wife, Polina Shamrayev, who he is seducing.
It’s a starry cast and difficult to get tickets – but there is a ticket lottery system – see the link below.
(February 26) – April 5
The Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS
https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2025/event/the-seagull (Ticket Lottery, scroll down)
