by Lisa Holdsworth
Directed by Trevor MacFarlane
“…a frighteningly here-and-now cultural clash…” The Stage
“Holdsworth picked her way delicately through a culture wars minefield…” The Independent
“I can’t recommend it highly enough…” Alfred Hickling, The Guardian
Synopsis
Bradford 2010. The English Defense League is marching against the “Islamification” of Britain. At the other end of the city, Unite Against Fascism and the Asian residents of Bradford and Leeds are marching against the EDL. When the police fail to keep the two factions apart, it all kicks off.
Old friends Amir and Lee find themselves in alleyway protesting on opposite sides.Through their funny and warm friendship we explore how division has grown up between people who don’t want to be defined by their race and religion, but find they can’t help it. We come to understand that Lee’s journey from tolerance to frustration has more to do with economics than religion. And how Muslims like Amir can only take so much before something has to give.
Shred Productions present the world premier of this new play by our Associate Writer, BAFTA nominated television writer, Lisa Holdsworth. The piece began life as a 15 minute short play as part of JB Shorts, the new writing festival for television writers, directed by Trevor MacFarlane. The short play was selected to perform at Contact as part of The Library Theatre’s RE:PLAY festival in 2011 and a reading of the current full length play was given a reading at The Bolton Octagon.
Dates
The Lowry, Salford: 23rd May to 25th May 2013
Creative Team
Director: Trevor MacFarlane
Sound Designer: Simon James Cookson
Producer: David Brown
Casting Director: Janet Hampson
Cast
Sushil Chudasama (Amir):
Sushil trained at LAMDA and has worked extensively in TV, Theatre, Film and Radio. Theatre credits include B22 and East Meets West (The Royal Court), Queuing for Everest and Mapping the Edge(The Sheffield Crucible), Krindlekrax (Birmingham Rep and Nottingham Playhouse) Testing the Echo (Out of Joint), The Kindness of Strangers (Liverpool Everyman) and One Million Tiny Plays About Britain (Citizens Glasgow). Film & TV roles include Chicken Tikka Masala (2005), Late Bloomers (feature film released 2011/12), guest appearances in Cops, Cold Feet, Strumpet, City Central, Shipman, Offside, Doctors, Casualty, Waterloo Road, Moving On and recurring roles in Dream Team, Clocking Off, Blue Murder, Coronation Street, Drop Dead Gorgeous, Collision and most recently the 4 O’Clock Club due for transmission Jan 2012. Sushil has featured in many radio plays including Mela Mania, The Immacualte Conception, Joe’s Last Day, Bhopal, A Minus, Cottonopolis and recurring roles in Divided We Fall and Silver Street (BBC Asian Network).
Joe Ransom (Lee):
This year (2011) Joe won the Best Actor Manchester Evening News Theatre Award for his performance in the 15-minute version of Going to Extremes. His theatre credits include; Whistleblower(Royal Exchange), Hometown Glory (Royal Exchange), The Crash of the Elysium (Punchdrunk),Darkness Descends (Punchdrunk), Getting Married (Library Theatre),Frozen (Library Theatre) as well as the UK premiere of The Laramie Project (Lowry Theatre) and a National no.1 Tour of Girls Night Out. Other credits include; various BBC Radio 4 dramas, Doctors, Hollyoaks, Two Pints of Lager and feature films The Lost Choices andRight Hand Drive. He is currently working with the Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse Theatre developing two new plays. He is also pleased to be teaching back at Manchester Metropolitan School of Theatre where he completed his training in 2008.
Photographs © Shred Productions
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