Set in his home city in the month of Ramadan, Combustion is the first full-length play by Bradford-born Asif Khan, a new comic drama set in a local garage in the lead-up to a march by far-right nationalists. Following its run at Tara theatre, Combustion will transfer directly to Arcola Theatre before a UK tour.
Khan made his mark as an actor in the ensemble cast of Snookered (Tamasha/Bush) and performed in Tara Arts’ recent Paradise of the Assassins as well as Love, Bombs and Apples at Arcola Theatre and its UK Tour. As a writer, Khan has recently been named in the recent BBC New Talent Hotlist 2017. He is a member of the Tamasha Playwrights Group, and has been commissioned to write a full-length play with Tamasha. Combustion was selected as one of six new plays for the Arcola Theatre’s play WROUGHT#2 Festival, 2014.
In Combustion, racists plan to march through the Bradford during Ramadan, inflaming local tensions. Meanwhile Shaz, a local garage mechanic, desperately tries to keep his business running smoothly so he can marry well. In this volatile environment, Shaz’s sister Samina is determined to make her voice heard.
The cast will include Mitesh Soni, known to Tara audiences for performances in Macbeth and Paradise of the Assassins, Beruce Khan who performed in Tara’s co-production with the National Theatre, The Black Album, Rez Kempton, recently seen in Little Revolution at the Almeida and Shireen Farkhoy, who has appeared at the Arcola as part of the Dare to Dream short play evening. The cast is completed by Nigel Hastings, who recently won plaudits for his performance in And then come the Nightjars.
Speaking about the production, Asif Khan said “I hope it entertains and makes audiences laugh, but also breaks stereotypes and misconceptions about Muslims. I really hope that Muslim audiences can identify with the characters. I’ve not tried to shy away from anything. Some of it is quite hard hitting. Most importantly, it’s the truth of what I feel and see. It’s from the heart and that’s all I can bring”.
Combustion is at Tara Theatre 17th – 27th May and Arcola Theatre 30th May – 24th June.
