Papatango today announce full casting for Iman Qureshi’s The Funeral Director – winner of their 10th annual New Writing Prize. Hannah Hauer King directs Aryana Ramkhalawon (Ayesha), Maanuv Thiara (Zeyd), Tom Morley (Tom) and Jessica Clark (Janey).
The Funeral Director, an exploration of a gay Muslim woman coming to terms with her identity, has its world première in a four-week run at Southwark Playhouse opening on 2 November, with previews from 31 October, and running until 24 November.
This year’s Papatango New Writing Prize received a record-breaking number of submissions from across the UK and Ireland – 1,384. This means the Prize continues to attract more annual UK/Irish submissions than any other playwriting platform – and is unique in giving feedback to all entrants.
“I just thought it would be a secret I’d have to die with. And now – I think it’ll be what kills me.”
Life as the director of a Muslim funeral parlour isn’t always easy, but Ayesha has things pretty sorted. She and Zeyd share everything: a marriage, a business, a future.
Until Tom walks in to organise his boyfriend’s funeral. A snap moral decision, informed by the values of Ayesha’s community and faith, has profound consequences.
Forced to confront a secret she has hidden even from herself, Ayesha must decide who she is – no matter the cost.
The Funeral Director is an incisive and heartfelt story of sexuality, gender and religion in 21st-century Britain.
