Award-winning playwright Ayub Khan Din’s first play, East is East, which premiered at the Royal Court and was later turned into a much-loved feature film, returns to the London stage after 17 years.
The hilarious and ever-pertinent modern classic about growing up in multiracial England will star Jane Horrocks (Young Vic’s Annie Get Your Gun/Absolutely Fabulous) as Ella Khan, one of the greatest female roles written for modern theatre.
Khan Din himself steps into his semi-autobiographical take on British Asian life in the 1970s – a play that continues to resonate and provoke discussion – to play her husband, George “Genghis” Khan.
Directed by acclaimed young director Sam Yates, East is East follows Richard III in Jamie Lloyd’s second season for Trafalgar Transformed. East is East opens on Wednesday 15th October 2014 (previews from 4th October) and runs until Saturday 3rd January 2015.
Pakistani chip-shop owner George Khan - "Genghis" to his kids - is determined to give his children a strict Muslim upbringing against the unforgiving backdrop of 1970s Salford. Household tension reaches breaking point as their long-suffering English mother, Ella, gets caught in the cross fire - her loyalties divided between her marriage and the free will of her children.
Jamie Lloyd (Artistic Director of Trafalgar Transformed), said, “Having announced Martin Freeman in Richard III, I am thrilled to reveal the next production of my second Trafalgar Transformed season, with more work to be announced at a later date. Both Richard III and East is East are powerhouse plays that provoke discussion and debate – programming that reflects our location on Whitehall, just a few steps away from the centre of British politics.
"I am overjoyed to welcome the incredibly talented Jane Horrocks, who will star in Ayub Khan Din's modern classic, and am excited that Ayub himself has agreed to play George. This will add even more weight and authenticity to this major revival of his semi-autobiographical play.
"In a drive to support emerging talent, I am pleased to introduce West End audiences to the work of Sam Yates, who will direct the production. Sam's recent work, including The El Train with Ruth Wilson, has been dazzlingly impressive and I can't wait to see what he creates with this unique piece.”
Ayub Khan Din said: “It's fantastic that East is East is having its first major London revival, as part of the exciting new season at Trafalgar Transformed. East is East will always remain a special piece for me because of its autobiographical nature and the fact that it continues to find relevance with each generation of young people that see it. I look forward to revisiting it with a new company, not just as the writer, but as an actor as well.”
Richard III and East is East follow Jamie Lloyd’s dynamic first Trafalgar Transformed season, which launched with Macbeth starring James McAvoy, followed by The Hothouse, starring John Simm and Simon Russell Beale and The Pride, starring Hayley Atwell and Mathew Horne.
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