The smash-hit East is East has opened at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, where it first premiered in 1996.

Since premiering on The REP’s stage in 1996, East Is East has sold out three London runs, been adapted into a BAFTA Award-winning film and become a modern classic of comic-drama and the smash-hit comedy-drama now returns home for its 25th anniversary. 

Written by Ayub Khan Din, it will be directed by Iqbal Khan, who has worked extensively with the RSC amongst many other accolades, and was also recently announced as the new Associate Director of Birmingham REP.

The cast will include Amy-Leigh Hickman as Meenah;  Irvine Iqbal as Mr Shah/Dr; Tony Jayawardena as George; Adonis Jenieco as Saleem; Rachel Lumberg as Annie; Noah Manzoor as Sajit; Joeravar Sangha as Maneer; Gurjeet Singh as Tariq; Sophie Stanton as Ella and Assad Zaman as Abdul. 

Director Iqbal Khan being joined by Bretta Gerecke (Set, Projection and Lighting Design), Susan Kulkarni (Costume Design), Felix Dubs (Composer), Jon Nicholls (Sound Design), Stuart Burt CDG (Casting), Natasha Kathi-Chandra (Associate Director), Max White (Video Associate) and RC-Annie (Fight Director).

George Khan wants to raise his family the proper Pakistani way but hasn’t counted on the distractions of 70s Salford. Abdul and Tariq aren’t ready to be married off, Saleem is pushing artistic boundaries, Meenah’s skirt is too short and Sajit just wants to hide in his parka. Can mum Ella keep the family together? 

Details

Birmingham Repertory Theatre - The House
3 - 25 September
Tickets from £12.50 
birmingham-rep.co.uk 
0121 236 4455 

National Theatre
7-30 October (tickets on sale from 30 July)
https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/ 
020 7452 3060

Chichester Festival Theatre
1-6 November (tickets on sale from 11 September)
https://www.cft.org.uk/ 
01243781312