AIK Productions and Tara Arts will be organising the World premiere of BBC New Talent Hotlist writer Asif Khan’s debut play Combustion - about young British Muslim lives in the North.
Written by Asif Khan and Directed by Nona Shepphard, the play is set in his home city in the month of Ramadan. Combustion is the first full-length play by Bradford-born Asif Khan, a new comic drama set in a local garage in the lead-up to a march by far-right nationalists.
In Combustion, racists plan to march through the Bradford during Ramadan, inflaming local tensions. Meanwhile Shaz, a local garage mechanic, desperately tries to keep his business running smoothly so he can marry well. In this volatile environment, Shaz’s sister Samina is determined to make her voice heard.
The cast will include Mitesh Soni, known to Tara audiences for performances in Macbeth and Paradise of the Assassins, Beruce Khan who performed in Tara’s co-production with the National Theatre, The Black Album, Rez Kempton, recently seen in Little Revolution at the Almeida and Shireen Farkhoy, who has appeared at the Arcola as part of the Dare to Dream short play evening. The cast is completed by Nigel Hastings, who recently won plaudits for his performance in And then come the Nightjars.
Asif Khan said “I hope it entertains and makes audiences laugh, but also breaks stereotypes and misconceptions about Muslims. I really hope that Muslim audiences can identify with the characters. I've not tried to shy away from anything. Some of it is quite hard hitting. Most importantly, it's the truth of what I feel and see. It's from the heart and that's all I can bring”.
Tara Theatre's first production in 2015 was Love, Bombs & Apples by award-winning playwright Hassan Abdulrazzak, It had a sold out run at the Arcola Theatre as part of the Shubbak Arab Arts Festival in 2015 and returned in 2016 for 4 weeks at the Arcola Theatre alongside a UK tour to. The show will be touring the UK from mid May till July 7th.
