The P Word
by Waleed Akhtar
HOLLOWAY THEATRE (Bush Theatre's main space)
About
A Bush Theatre Production
9 September – 29 October 2022
‘I’m not in your Britain. I’m in another Britain.’
Zafar flees homophobic persecution in Pakistan to seek asylum in the UK. Londoner Bilal (or Billy as he prefers to be known) is ground down by years of Grindr and the complexity of being a brown gay man. Their worlds are about to change forever.
Moving through casual hook-ups to the UK’s hostile environment, Waleed Akhtar’s sharp-witted and devastating new play charts the parallel lives of two gay Pakistani men. This story of who wins in the luck of life’s draw is a new Bush Theatre commission directed by Anthony Simpson-Pike (Lava).
★★★★★ “Tremendous. Devastating. Plays like this are rare.” Time Out
★★★★ “Irresistible. Bewitches with hope, romance and heart.” Guardian
★★★★★ New European ★★★★★ Hamza Jahanzeb ★★★★ The Times ★★★★ Arts Desk
“Gorgeous” Pink News “Thrillingly moving” The Stage
The Bush are proud to be working with Micro Rainbow to realise this production. Micro Rainbow opened the first safe house in the United Kingdom dedicated solely to LGBTQI asylum seekers and refugees, and work to support them at all stages of the process. microrainbow.org
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The P Word Pre-Show Information
Tayla Hunter in rehearsals for The P Word (photo by Craig Fuller)
Esh Alladi and Waleed Akhtar in rehearsals for The P Word (photo by Craig Fuller)
Waleed Akhtar in rehearsals for The P Word (photo by Craig Fuller)
Esh Alladi in rehearsals for The P Word (photo by Craig Fuller)
Anthony Simpson-Pike in rehearsals for The P Word (photo by Craig Fuller)
Esh Alladi in rehearsals for The P Word (photo by Craig Fuller)
Anthony Simpson-Pike and Waleed Akhtar in rehearsals for The P Word (photo by Craig Fuller)
Esh Alladi in rehearsals for The P Word (photo by Craig Fuller)
Waleed Akhtar in rehearsals for The P Word (photo by Craig Fuller)
Esh Alladi in rehearsals for The P Word (photo by Craig Fuller)
Waleed Akhtar in rehearsals for The P Word (photo by Craig Fuller)
Esh Alladi in rehearsals for The P Word (photo by Craig Fuller)
Esh Alladi and Waleed Akhtar in rehearsals for The P Word (photo by Craig Fuller)
Waleed Akhtar in rehearsals for The P Word (photo by Craig Fuller)
Esh Alladi in rehearsals for The P Word (photo by Craig Fuller)
Esh Alladi in rehearsals for The P Word (photo by Craig Fuller)
Waleed Akhtar (Bilal) and Esh Alladi (Zafar) in The P Word at Bush Theatre. Photo credit Craig Fuller.
Waleed Akhtar (Bilal) and Esh Alladi (Zafar) in The P Word at Bush Theatre. Photo credit Craig Fuller.
Waleed Akhtar (Bilal) and Esh Alladi (Zafar) in The P Word at Bush Theatre. Photo credit Craig Fuller.
Waleed Akhtar (Bilal) and Esh Alladi (Zafar) in The P Word at Bush Theatre. Photo credit Craig Fuller.
Waleed Akhtar (Bilal) in The P Word at Bush Theatre. Photo credit Craig Fuller.
Waleed Akhtar (Bilal) and Esh Alladi (Zafar) in The P Word at Bush Theatre. Photo credit Craig Fuller.
Esh Alladi (Zafar) in The P Word at Bush Theatre. Photo credit Craig Fuller.
Waleed Akhtar (Bilal) and Esh Alladi (Zafar) in The P Word at Bush Theatre. Photo credit Craig Fuller.
Waleed Akhtar (Bilal) in The P Word at Bush Theatre. Photo credit Craig Fuller.
Waleed Akhtar (Bilal) and Esh Alladi (Zafar) in The P Word at Bush Theatre. Photo credit Craig Fuller.
Waleed Akhtar (Bilal) and Esh Alladi (Zafar) in The P Word at Bush Theatre. Photo credit Craig Fuller.
Waleed Akhtar (Bilal) and Esh Alladi (Zafar) in The P Word at Bush Theatre. Photo credit Craig Fuller.
Waleed Akhtar (Bilal) in The P Word at Bush Theatre. Photo credit Craig Fuller.
Waleed Akhtar (Bilal) and Esh Alladi (Zafar) in The P Word at Bush Theatre. Photo credit Craig Fuller.
Waleed Akhtar (Bilal) and Esh Alladi (Zafar) in The P Word at Bush Theatre. Photo credit Craig Fuller.
Waleed Akhtar (Bilal) and Esh Alladi (Zafar) in The P Word at Bush Theatre. Photo credit Craig Fuller.
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