ANITA AND ME Stage Adaptation to Premiere at Birmingham Repertory Theatre

Meera Syal's much-loved novel bursts onto the stage for the very first time this Autumn. Adapted for the stage by the award-winning playwright, Tanika Gupta, and with specially composed music by Ben and Max Ringham, Anita And Me paints a colourful portrait of village life in 1970's West Midlands during the era of flares, power cuts and glam rock. Directed by Roxana Silbert, the production premieres at Birmingham Repertory Theatre from 9 - 24 October (press night Tuesday 13 October, 7pm) before transferring to Theatre Royal Stratford East from 29 October - 21 November.

Anita And Me is a poignant coming-of-age tale that follows Meena, the irreverent teenage daughter of the only Punjabi family in the mining village of Tollington. When she becomes friends with the impossibly feisty Anita, she thinks she's found her soul mate but her world is turned upside down and she finds herself caught between her two cultures.

Meera Syal says of the stage adaptation:

"I am so thrilled that Anita and Me is being developed and premiered at the Birmingham Rep, in the West Midlands where I grew up, where the novel is set and whose people and stories had such a huge influence on my childhood. I know Roxana and Tanika and the rest of the team will do it proud and I can't wait to see Anita, Meena and the rest of the crew come to life on stage. It will be, I'm pretty sure, bostin'!"

Roxana Silbert, Artistic Director of Birmingham Repertory Theatre says:

"Meera's brilliant novel is a wonderful coming-of-age story. It's an engaging and funny tale set in a tight knit community about a young girl trying to decide her cultural identity and I look forward immensely to realising it on stage."

Jalleh Alizadeh and Mandeep Dhillon take leading roles. Mandeep Dhillon (Meena) is best known for her roles of Saz in the BBC3 series Some Girls and Dacia in CBBC's hit series Wolf Blood. She can be currently seen in one of BBC iPlayer's first Original Drama Shorts, My Jihad. Mandeep has also appeared in popular shows such as The Thick of It, Whitechapel and Cardinal Burns and on stage in Angle at the Bush and Little Platoons at the Bush Theatre. Local Birmingham actress Jalleh Alizadeh (Anita) has appeared on screen in the ITV comedy drama Benidorm and BBC dramas Doctors and Hustle.

Playing Meena's parents, Daljit and Shyam, are Ayesha Dharker and Ameet Chana. Ayesha Dharker played Meena's mother in the film of Anita And Me. She has recently appeared in Othello at the RSC and her many other theatre credits include the West End and Broadway musical Bombay Dreams, The Ramayana at Birmingham Repertory Theatre and Arabian Nights at the RSC. On television Ayesha has appeared in Coronation Street, Indian Summers and Doctor Who. Her film credits include Star Wars: Attack of the Clones and The Terrorist.

Ameet Chana was a series regular in EastEnders and has recently appeared in the BBC drama My Jihad alongside Mandeep Dhillon. On stage Ameet has appeared in Happy Birthday Sunita at Watford Palace Theatre and The Djinns of Eidgah at the Royal Court Theatre. His film credits include The Black Prince and Unhallowed Ground.

The cast for Anita And Me also includes: Amy Booth-Steel (Mrs Ormerod); Janice Connolly (Mrs Worrall); Joseph Drake (Sam); Kiren Jogi (Aunty Shaila); Megan McCormick (Tracey); Tarek Merchant (Ned); Chris Nayak (Uncle Amman) and Yasmin Wilde (Nanima).

The production will be directed by Roxana Silbert, Artistic Director of Birmingham Repertory Theatre. Previously an Associate Director at the Royal Shakespeare Company and former Artistic Director of Paines Plough, her directing credits include The King's Speech, Of Mice and Men, Khandan (Family), Tartuffe (Birmingham Repertory Theatre), the RSC's production of Dunsinane (International Tour & Hampstead Theatre), A Life of Galileo, Measure for Measure, Richard III and A Soldier in Every Son and Iron (Royal Court Downstairs).

Tanika Gupta's most recent plays include Love N Stuff (Theatre Royal Stratford East, The Empress (RSC) and Wah! Wah! Girls (Sadler's Wells). Tanika has also written extensively for BBC Radio drama, including the recent Letters from a Young Indian Revolutionary for BBC Radio 4 and Baby Farming for BBC Radio 3.

The Anita And Me set is designed by Bob Bailey with lighting design by Chahine Yavroyan. Ben and Max Ringham compose and design the sound, and movement direction will be by Ann Yee.

During the run in Birmingham, Meera Syal and Tanika Gupta will discuss their remarkable careers, and the process of bringing Anita And Me to the stage on Saturday 10 October. This In Conversation will be recorded for broadcast on BBC Radio 3's Arts and Ideas programme, Free Thinking.

Anita And Me at Birmingham Repertory Theatre is sponsored by Grosvenor Casinos.

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