Curve's WIPERS Named Finalist for Best Stage Production at Asian Media Awards

Curve has announced its production of Ishy Din's play Wipers has been selected as a finalist of the Best Stage Production at this year's Asian Media Awards.

Commissioned by Curve and co-produced with Belgrade Theatre Coventry and Watford Palace Theatre, Wipers is inspired by the real life story of Khuddadad Khan, the first South Asian soldier to be awarded a Victoria Cross for his extraordinary bravery at the First Battle of Ypres. Written by award winning playwright Ishy Din and directed by Curve Associate Director Suba Das, this startling new piece of work honours the contribution of the million South Asian soldiers who fought alongside British soldiers during the World War I.

Chris Stafford, Chief Executive and Nikolai Foster, Artistic Director of Curve, said today, "We continue to celebrate diversity and share stories from many different perspectives with Ishy Din's beautiful play, Wipers. The play celebrates the extraordinary actions of South Asian soldiers during the Great War and we are honoured our production has been recognised during this centenary."

Director of Wipers, Suba Das, commented: "It's an absolute thrill Wipers has been recognised by the Asian Media Awards. We are proud to have brought an under-told story about the South Asian contribution to the First World War effort to light, taking the play to audiences across the UK. Challenging stereotypes and changing perspectives is one of the most powerful things theatre can do, and we saw this every night in the extraordinary response to Ishy Din's profoundly moving script, Isla Shaw's stunning design, and the performances of our four brilliant actors."

The Asian Media Awards is designed to showcase the very best talent working in Asian media and creative industries. The winners will be announced on the 27 October at The Hilton, Manchester.

The announcement follows Curve's shortlisting for The Renee Stepham Award for Best Presentation of Touring Theatre at the prestigious UK Theatre Awards.

Curve is run by Leicester Theatre Trust Limited, a registered charity (no. 230708). We gratefully acknowledge and welcome the continued support of and partnership with the above organisations.

Curve is a major producing theatre, creating exceptional and compelling experiences. We use our unique home and talent to entertain, inspire and engage with a diverse audience and play a leading role in the development of our industry, our city and our global community. At the heart of this is the ambition to offer our local audiences world-class theatrical experiences.

Curve is a registered charity, number 230708, enabling people of all ages and backgrounds to access, participate in and learn from the arts, nurturing new and emerging talent, and creating outstanding, award-winning theatrical experiences.

Under the leadership of Chief Executive Chris Stafford and Artistic Director Nikolai Foster, Curve is developing a reputation for producing, programming and touring a bold and diverse programme of musicals, plays, new work and dance. All of this presented alongside a dynamic mix of community engagement and learning opportunities, which firmly places audiences and communities at the heart of what Curve does. Recent productions and co-productions Made At Curve include: our Community Company production of Alan Parker's Bugsy Malone, Spring Awakening (with NYMT), Sister Act (& Monaco & UK tour), Legally Blonde (& Daegu Opera Festival, South Korea - Winner Best Musical - Daegu International Musical Festival Awards), Truman Capote's Breakfast at Tiffany's (& Haymarket Theatre, London & UK tour), Ishy Din's Wipers (in collaboration with Belgrade Theatre Coventry & Watford Palace), Roald Dahl's The Witches (& Lyric Theatre, Hong Kong & UK tour), Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire, Hairspray (& UK tour), Shakespeare's Richard III, Akram Khan's Until the Lions (with Roundhouse, London), Sue Townsend's The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 ¾ - The Musical, and Jonathan Harvey's Beautiful Thing (& UK national tour).

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