Zaida and Aadam rehearsals | Photo by Helen Murray
“I felt the same looks you know – the ones after 7/7 – the ‘leave at the nearest exit we’ve had a referendum’ looks. Remember those?”
Zaida and Aadam meet in the local laundrette. But people are staring. They try not to draw attention, but against a backdrop of fear, political divisions and state control, they’re both unsure what will come out in the wash.
The pair go way back but recent events mean they’ve got a lot to catch up on. Over the course of their meetings, Zaida reveals her plan to get them both firmly off the watch list but Aadam is left wondering if they really hold the same values.
With domestic policy on radicalisation raging and teachers recruited to the counter terrorism cause; this punchy play pits two young Muslims’ moral obligations to country, family and faith against a desire to stand up and be counted for the greater good.
Zaida and Aadam takes place at Nubian Life Resource Centre. However to help you locate the venue, we strongly advise audiences for Zaida and Aadam meet at our information and box office, Shepherd’s Bush Boutique Hotel, 20 minutes before the show starts. Click here to open in Google Maps.
Edward Lewis is Sound Designer for Zaida and Aadam, The Rest of Your Life, Battleface
Edward studied Music at Oxford University and subsequently trained as a composer and sound designer at the Bournemouth Media School. He works in theatre, film, television and radio. He has recently been nominated for several Off West End Theatre Awards, and films he has recently worked on have won several awards at the LA International Film Festival and Filmstock International Film Festival. Recent theatre includes: Unfaithful (Found 111) The Vertical Hour (Theatre by the Lake) Bug (Found 111) The Dazzle (Found 111) Baddies the Musical (Unicorn Theatre) Breaking the Ice (Unicorn Theatre) Chef (Soho Theatre) Abigail’s Party (Leicester Curve) Hannah (Unicorn Theatre) The Cement Garden (VAULT Festival)The Speed Twins (Riverside Studios) Eugenie Grandet (Hartshorn-Hook Productions) Cuddles (Oval House Theatre) Molly Sweeney (The Print Room/Lyric ) Ignorance (Hampstead Theatre), Gravity (Birmingham Rep Theatre), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Almeida)
Gbolahan Obisesan recently held the role of Genesis Fellow/Associate Director at the Young Vic Theatre. In 2018, Gbolahan’s adaptation of the Booker Prize-nominated novel The Fisherman will premiere at HOME, Manchester (New Perspectives Theatre). Previous directing credits include: 2017 Olivier-nominated Cuttin’ It (Young Vic, Birmingham Rep, Sheffield Crucible, Royal Court, Yard Theatre); Off The Page, a short film for the Royal Court/Guardian’s microplays season; We are Proud to Present…, 66 Books (Bush Theatre); How Nigeria Became: A story, and a spear that didn’t work (Unicorn Theatre); SUS, The Web (Young Vic). Gbolahan was awarded the Director in Residence at the National Theatre Studio as the recipient of the Bulldog Princep Director’s Bursary in 2008.
Madani took over as Artistic Director of the Bush Theatre in 2012. He directed the critically acclaimed UK premiere of The Royale in 2015 which was revived in 2016. In 2013 he won the Groucho Club Maverick Award for the theatre, following the most successful season in the theatre’s history which played to 99% capacity. Also for the Bush Theatre he has directed The Principles of Cartography as part of Black Lives, Black Words, Zaida and Aadam as part of This Place We Know, Perseverance Drive and Chalet Lines.
Madani is currently working as a member of the Mayor of London’s Cultural Board.
Prior to his appointment at the Bush Theatre, he was Artistic Director of Freedom Studios in Bradford, Yorkshire where his work included the site-specific work, The Mill – City of Dreams. He has also worked nationally and internationally as a theatre director, writer and practitioner. He was previously Director of Red Ladder Theatre Company’s Asian Theatre School where he directed included Silent Cry, Free World and Streets of Rope.
He originally trained in film, and his debut short film Ellabellapumpanella, commissioned by the UK Film Council, was screened at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2007. He was the recipient of the Decibel Award at the South Bank Awards show in 2006.
Nubian Life Resource Centre is a care provider for African and Caribbean elders living within the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Established in 1982, it has provided care for those living with complex health conditions such as dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, sensory impairment and physical disabilities. Abuzz with activities and laughter, Nubian Life focuses on empowering people through preventative, social and educational activities, promoting choice and control, alongside emotional and physical well-being.
Priscilla John, Orla Maxwell and Francesca Bradley have worked together as a casting team since 2009 on diverse and exciting film and international TV projects. Priscilla leads the team with a wealth of experience including the Royal Court Theatre in 1970’s, Granada TV, and an independent career casting for David Lean, Steven Spielberg, Gore Verbinski, Terrence Davies and Andrei Tarkovsky. Always on the hunt for new UK talent, the team are passionate theatregoers attending fringe, West End and drama graduate shows.
