It’s heartening to see that a lot of theatres are programming South Asian led creative work which is putting writers, actors and creatives at the heart of the story. We present a variety of such creativity for this month’s theatre listings across two pages – page 2 here or follow the link at the bottom…
Champion (2 pictures) – Inspired by Muhammad Ali’s visit to North East in 1977
THIS IS A world premiere of a new play by writer, Ishy Din which looks at what happens when World Heavy weight Champion boxer Muhammed Ali is due to come to South Shields in the during the Queen’s Jubilee Year in the Summer of 1977.
Using the visit as a backdrop, ‘Champion’ is a story about how this affects two mixed race brothers, Billy and Azeem and their mother, Sheila and is directed by Jack McNamara.
Ali drew huge crowds and his party toured around South Tyneside in an open-top bus, also used at the Queen’s Jubilee. During his stay, Ali had his marriage was blessed at the Al Azhar Mosque in Laygate, South Shields.
Alongside the play, the theatre is inviting locals who were there to share memories of the visit and to contribute photos and stories to share on their social media channels.
Middlesbrough born Ishy Din said: “The Ali fights are seared into my memory. I didn’t grasp his achievements or politics, I was simply swept up in the collective excitement in our house.
“For a young Pakistani Muslim growing up in the North East, Ali was the brightest star in the Universe.
“My play seeks to capture the essence of Alis’s visit which underscored the interconnectedness of people and places and showed how a global icon could touch lives in the most unexpected settings.”
Din was recently announced as an Associate Playwright as part of the Royal Court Theatre’s new writing team and is “widely acclaimed for his focus on authenticity and under-represented voices”.
‘Champion’ by Ishy Din runs from Thursday February 13 to March 8 at Live Theatre, 27-29 Broad Chare, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 3DQ
Age guidance 14+ with strong language, violence and racist language/slurs.
https://www.live.org.uk/whats-on/champion
Shirley Valentine – Escapist impulse leads to life changes
ACTOR Mina Anwar will be treading the boards at the for this warm hearted comedy, ‘Shirley Valentine’ by Willy Russell.
In this play, the eponymous lead – Shirley – is bored of putting fish and chips on the table for hubby and takes a holiday to Greece for the sun and to discover herself!
It’s great to see this story cast with a British Asian actor as it gives it a different twist.
How many women have felt once the children have flown the nest and life is a bit of a rut, it’s time to rejuvenate yourself and live your life!
‘Shirley Valentine’ directed by Lotte Wakeham will make you laugh and cry and Anwar first performed this show in 2020 (just before lockdown was announced) and the original Scouse Shirley is now relocated to Lancashire but with her same working class roots.
‘Shirley Valentine’ by Willy Russell between Friday, February 7-March 8, at The Octagon Theatre, Howell Croft S, Bolton BL1 1SB
https://octagonbolton.co.uk/events/shirley-valentine
Bungalow – Ango-Indian drama has the walls talking
MEANWHILE back in Wandsworth (which has been declared the London Borough of Culture 2025) at the Theatre 503 home for new writing, the world premiere for ‘Bungalow’ will take place. Anglo-Indian writer, Ruth D’Silva’s first full length play which was shortlisted in 2023 for the RSC’s 37 Plays Folio.
“I am Bungalow. A brick construct in my sixties, I was born with the stain of original sin on my soul. Oh, the things I have seen. Spend some time within my walls. Welcome home.”
Directed by Beth Kapila, ‘Bungalow’ is the story of the Anglo-Indian community told through the eyes of a house and the people who inhabit it. Agatha returns home to care for her vulnerable mother and hopes that this will be an opportunity to talk about things unspoken.
‘Bungalow’ by Ruth D’Silva from February 25-March 15 at 503 Theatre, 503 Battersea Park Road, London SW11 3BW
https://theatre503.com/whats-on/bungalow-2/
Scenes from Lost Mothers – what happens when pregnant and new mums are jailed
THEATRE company Clean Break is a woman’s only outfit that highlights issues pertaining to women in the criminal justice system through its plays.
The latest work, ‘Scenes from Lost Mothers’, written by Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti is based on research from The Lost Mothers Project, led by Dr Laura Abbott at the University of Hertfordshire, which explores the impact of separating incarcerated mothers from their new-borns.
It involves interviews with mothers to be, prison officers, health workers, midwives, decision makers, mental health teams and the finished show will be performed at conference and other training events as a way of presenting complex arguments in a creative way to encourage change and dialogue.
The show started on Saturday (February 1) through to March 31 and during this period there are only two public performances at the Central School of Drama on March 25 & 26 and can be booked by via Eventbrite link below.
Ticket link
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/scenes-from-lost-mothers-public-performances-tickets-1219304565779?aff=oddtdtcreator
For more information on the work and company https://www.cleanbreak.org.uk/productions/scenes-from-lost-mothers/
Page 2 listings cont
