East is East at the Theatre Royal Glasgow Review

East is East
Theatre Royal, Glasgow

10-15 August 2015

www.atgtickets.com/theatre-royal-glasgow

Reviewed by Juliana Headley

“East is East” is a play written by Ayub Khan Din, who was born in Salford. He briefly worked as a hairdresser after leaving school, before enrolling in drama school, where he wrote a play that we know now as “East is East”. After leaving drama school, Ayub went on to a film and television career. “East is East” has also been adapted by Ayub into a highly successful feature film. Both play and film have won quite a few awards, including Evening Standard Best Film Award, the Writer’s Guild Award for Best New Writer, Best West End Play and the John Whiting Award for Best stage Play. Ayub was also nominated for three BAFTAS and won Best British Film award. In the original 2014 West End production, Ayub had one of the leading roles, the head of the family, George Khan.

The play is set in 1971. The main character, George Khan, is a Pakistani immigrant and came into Britain in 1936. He married a local English woman Ella and had 7 children together. The play is about cultural identity.  A place of young people, who were born into mixed-race families, in the society. There is a conflict between the parents on how to raise a family, with George Khan, even though, he’s been in Britain for 35 years, still considers himself and his children to be Pakistani and his wife Ella, who understands the importance of cultural heritage, but also recognises her children were born in Britain and are shaped by the British culture. There is also a problem of freedom and choice for the young people, whether they identify themselves as Muslims or Brits, particularly the ones who are born in a mixed-race family.

I had a pleasant time watching the play, it was funny at times, although with quite a bit of swearing, and raising quite a bit of food for thought about young people, who are neither here nor there, between the two cultures. The actors were great and did their utmost best for the audience to have a great time!

Overall, I would rate “East is East” 4 out of 5.

Rating: 4/5

Tickets cost from £11.90 to £39.40 (plus £2.85 transaction fee).

East is East is at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow until 15 August 2015. For more information or to book tickets click here or call the box office on 0844 871 7647.

Theatre Royal, 282 Hope Street, Glasgow, G2 3QA | 0844 871 7647