Waleed Akhtar

Outside Edge Theatre Company's New Scheme Connects Writers With Professional Playwrights

Outside Edge Theatre Company and Nick Hern Books will present Script Club: a new playreading and events initiative to support the development of writers from underrepresented backgrounds.

MGCfutures Celebrates 10th Anniversary

Michael Grandage’s charity MGCfutures celebrated their 10th anniversary last Thursday 7 November at St. Martin-in-the-Fields in Trafalgar Square. Learn more about the organization here!

Mercury Theatre Reveals Full Cohort For Mercury Creatives

The Mercury Theatre in Colchester has announced the full cohort for their acclaimed Mercury Producers and Mercury Directors Development Programmes and their Mercury Playwrights Development Programme, which this year is in association with Paines Plough’s Tour The Writer.

Review: THE REAL ONES, Bush Theatre

At once intimate and expansive, The Real Ones follows the friendship of Zaid and Neelam from age nineteen to thirty-six. Once kindred spirits, moving in sync, they fall out of step when the harsh reality of adult life sends them in different directions. Waleed Akhtar (Olivier winner for The P Word) pens a sharply observed look into whether platonic love can last.

Photos: THE REAL ONES Begins Rehearsal at the Bush Theatre

The Real Ones, a funny and honest love letter to platonic soulmates will have its world premiere production at the Bush Theatre from 6 September. Check out rehearsal photos here!

Nathaniel Curtis, Mariam Haque and Anthony Howell Lead THE REAL ONES At Bush Theatre

Casting for THE REAL ONES, Waleed Akhtar's world premiere at Bush Theatre, has been announced. The play explores themes of identity and belonging, featuring a diverse and talented cast.

Bush Theatre Reveals Season Lineup For Second Half of 2024

Bush Theatre has announced productions for the second half of 2024. Learn more about the full lineup here!

Bush Theatre Launches New Emerging Writers Group and a New Literary Team

The Bush Theatre has announced a change to its Literary team along with the new members of its 2023 Emerging Writers Group (EWG).  This year's cohort will be Kaleya Baxe, Yasmine Dankwah, Aaron Kilercioglu, Lare Ofeyusi, Mwansa Phiri, Tanya Shamil.

Deirdre O'Halloran Announced as Head of New Musical Theatre at Birmingham Hippodrome

Birmingham Hippodrome has announced that Deirdre O’Halloran will join the organisation as Head of New Musical Theatre. Deirdre will start her new role in October 2023.

Mercury Theatre Colchester Extends Their Three Career Enhancing Talent Development Programmes

Mercury Theatre Colchester has announced an extension of three dedicated talent development programmes for promising and innovative Playwrights, Producers and Directors from the East of England to create and develop work with leading theatre-makers.

Bush Theatre Celebrates The Success of its 50th Anniversary Year

The team at the Bush Theatre, led by Artistic Director Lynette Linton and Executive Director Lauren Clancy are celebrating an unprecedented year of hit plays, community work, and industry awards for the venue's 50th anniversary year.

Waleed Akhtar Announced as First Recipient of The Roger Michell Commissioning Fund

Waleed Akhtar is the first recipient of The Roger Michell Commissioning Fund. The annual fund, set up after the passing of director Roger Michell in 2021 with donations from his family and friends, will support an annual commission for a playwright with a fresh and unique perspective on the world to develop a play alongside the Almeida.

Review: THE ART OF ILLUSION, Hampstead Theatre

Sold as a curious tale of enchantment, it’s a romantic comedy masquerading as a French pastiche that crosses eras and genres. Translated by Waleed Akhtar, it’s debuting at the theatre’s Downstairs stage with Tom Jackson Greaves at the helm. Unfortunately, this shaky production leaves much to be desired.

Sophie Swithinbank Wins Peggy Ramsay Award

Sophie Swithinbank has been awarded the Peggy Ramsay Foundation and Film4 2023 Playwrights' Scheme bursary for her play Bacon, winning The Tom Erhardt Bursary, named after the late literary agent and long-time supporter of the Finborough Theatre.

Bush Theatre Announces Its Script Submissions Window and Emerging Writer's Group

The Bush Theatre, London has announced that their latest script submissions window will run from 29 November 2022 until 9 January 2023.  

Tickets From £36 for THE P WORD at The Bush Theatre

Tickets from £36 for The P Word at the Bush Theatre. 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.

Extension Announced For Waleed Akhtar's 5* Hit THE P WORD At Bush Theatre

Following audience and 5* critical acclaim, the world premiere of Waleed Akhtar's 'THE P WORD' has today released a new trailer and an extension to the run has been announced. The P Word will now end on 29 October 2022. 

Review: THE P WORD, Bush Theatre

This two-man show explores what it’s like for a gay Muslim, who’s also dealing with the expectations of his Pakistani family and the wider community; it also investigates the continued threat of the UK’s ‘hostile environment’ – a deadly game of chance for many at-risk individuals.

Photos: First Look at THE P WORD at the Bush Theatre

The Bush Theatre presents THE P WORD by Waleed Akhtar 9 September - 22 October. Get a first look in the photos here!

Photos: Rehearsal Photos Released of THE P WORD at Bush Theatre

Check out the rehearsal photos of Waleed Akhtar's play The P Word, coming to the Bush Theatre in September