Tickets were gifted in return for an honest review.
A funny, moving and deeply personal exploration of family, identity and belonging.
Co-produced by Octagon Theatre Bolton, Citizens Theatre and Wiltshire Creative, this newly created production of Ayub Khan-Din’s East Is East brings this play back to the stage, 30 years after it was first produced.
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| Photo by Pamela Raith Photography. |
For me, East Is East will always hold a special place. I first discovered the story on a memorable trip to the cinema in 1999. It was the first time I remember feeling such a deep connection with characters on screen: their mannerisms, their quirks and, above all, their struggle with not quite fitting into either culture. Here was a mixed-race family just like mine. Some characters might have called themselves half-caste or half-bred, but I rather liked the term Eurasian!
This is a play that captures the subtleties of growing up between two cultures: throwing curry powder around the house to disguise the smell of bacon, or being offered a cup of tea only to receive ‘half a cup’. These small, familiar details perfectly capture the experience of having a white mum and a brown dad, navigating the expectations of two different worlds. Yet, while these moments felt particularly personal to me, the play’s themes of identity, family and belonging have a universal appeal.
Set in 1970s Salford, East Is East follows a working-class family living above their own fish and chip shop. At its heart is George Khan (Bhasker Patel), a well-meaning but deeply flawed husband and father determined to preserve his Pakistani heritage and cultural traditions for his children, as the world he is living in moves in a very different direction. Patel delivers a brilliant performance, capturing George’s accent, mannerisms and rigid outlook, while exposing his prejudices.
Opposite him, Ella (Samantha Power) gives a sterling performance as the mother of seven, desperately trying to hold her family together amid the constant arguments and cultural clashes. Her portrayal is both warm and heartbreaking, particularly in the more harrowing scenes of domestic violence and her determination to fight for her children’s needs. Through it all, she remains the family’s emotional anchor, reminding us that sometimes putting the kettle on really can solve almost anything.
The production’s set is cleverly designed, transforming from a 1970s family kitchen into a fish and chip shop, while also creating the formal room reserved for visitors, where Mr Shah arrives to discuss the arranged marriages. We are given a view of the coal shed, Sajit’s hiding place when the family arguments become too much. This thoughtful set brings the household to life, making us feel as though we are right there among the family’s everyday chaos, watching 2 scenes unravelling simultaneously.
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| Photo by Pamela Raith Photography |
Meenah (Maya Dhokia) provides plenty of laughs as the only daughter in the family, bringing wit and energy to the sibling dynamics. Meanwhile, Rohan Macloed somehow has the audience firmly rooting for Sajit, the baby of the family, who is endlessly teased by his older brothers and sister. It is these smaller relationships, full of familiar squabbles and affectionate teasing, that make the family feel so authentic.
But this is a play of two halves. The first is filled with quirks, idiosyncrasies and humour, offering plenty of opportunities for laughter and recognition. The second act takes a much darker turn, confronting the painful realities beneath the comedy. The cultural tensions, the struggle for control and the damage caused by prejudice and violence become increasingly difficult to watch. The laughter gives way to something far more uncomfortable, and that contrast is what makes this story so powerful.
As we left the theatre, it was the darker side of this cross-cultural family’s experience that stayed with me. Beneath the humour lies a story about the cost of belonging, the pressures of tradition and the complicated business of finding your place in the world when you feel caught between two identities.
Thirty years on, East Is East still lands as it once did. For those who have lived between cultures, it offers moments of recognition that are both joyful and bittersweet. For everyone else, it provides a moving insight into the challenges of family life, cultural expectations and the meaning of home.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
East Is East plays at Derby Theatre until Saturday 24th October 2026. For tickets, visit https://derbytheatre.co.uk/event/east-is-east/
The show then moves to Citizens Theatre Glasgow from Wednesday 7 until Saturday 17 October and Wiltshire Creative’s Salisbury Playhouse from Tuesday 3 until Saturday 14 November.
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| Photo by Pamela Raith Photography |
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