Review: East Is East (UK Tour) at the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre

East Is East (UK Tour)
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
Reviewed on Tuesday 23rd June 2015

★★★★

Set in Salford in the early 1970s, East Is East is touring the UK following its run in the West End last year as part of Jamie Lloyd's Trafalgar Transformed season. A hugely iconic play about growing up in multiracial England, Ayub Khan Din's 1996 play remains remarkably relevant today.

Fresh from a stint in EastEnders, Pauline McLynn takes over from Jane Horrocks as Ella Khan, a mother who would do anything for her children. McLynn delves less into the character's vulnerable side, taking to the stage with immense strength throughout. She grows with the piece, with her act two outburst bringing the house down.

Simon Nagra takes over as George (played by writer Ayub Khan Din during the West End run), a father who wants the best for his family but struggles to deal with growing stress and high levels of expectation from his community. As tensions build he takes the play to a darker place, with passion and love developing into violence and aggression.

Review: East Is East at Trafalgar Studios

East Is East
Trafalgar Studios
Reviewed on Thursday 16th October 2014
★★★★

A hugely iconic play about growing up in multiracial England, East Is East is a tremendous piece which perfectly slides into Jamie Lloyd's second Trafalgar Transformed season. Sam Yates directs the production, marking his West End directorial debut, and has done a fine job.

East is East at Trafalgar Transformed: Further information announced

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.

Ayub Khan-Din & Jane Horrocks to star in East Is East; Sam Yates directs for Trafalgar Transformed

It has been confirmed that Ayub Khan-Din and Jane Horrocks will star in East Is East at Trafalgar Studios. The production will run as part of Jamie Lloyd's Trafalgar Transformed season in October. However, Sam Yates will direct the production.

The production runs between Saturday 4th October 2014 and Saturday 3rd January 2015.

Further casting was announced for Trafalgar Transformed's production of Richard III starring Martin Freeman earlier this week.