Rescheduled to June 15 2023
ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT
Kabul Goes Pop is written by Waleed Akhtar. Waleed Akhtar, is an actor, author, and director. Some of his acting credits include The Great (Hulu), Three Girls, Cruella (Disney), and Salmon Fishing In The Yemen (Kudos) (BBC). As part of a lockdown project for the elderly, Off Stage Theatre commissioned his most recent work as a writer/performer, “SHOLAY ON THE BIG SCREEN.” At the Vault Festival 2020, he co-created the piece addressing race and climate change I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO. He has devoted a lot of time to new writing while performing on stage for theatres like The Birmingham REP, Chichester Festival Theatre, Nottingham Playhouse, and the Park Theatre. In addition, he is an accomplished comic improviser and a member of the Actors for Human Rights Network.
ABOUT THE PLAY
It’s 2004 in Afghanistan. Once a day, for ninety minutes, co-hosts and friends, Farook and Samia broadcast the top pop hits of the day to the whole of Kabul. From Britney to Backstreet Boys to Enrique Iglesias and Shakira, their show soon starts to make waves, and the two young friends enjoy their new found fame. However, under the care-free bubble-gum sounds of western naughties pop, there is a political struggle brewing in Afghanistan.
“Inspired by the true story of Afghanistan’s first youth music programme, Waleed Akhtar’s play Kabul Goes Pop: Music Television Afghanistan explores a world following the US invasion that is complex, contradictory and shocking – all to a soundtrack of early noughties’ pop.”
JOIN PLAY DATE
Play Date is a monthly play reading activity, held on the third Thursday of each month. We read one play from around the world together. The play reading is followed by a group discussion about the play. Anyone is welcome to join and practice reading out loud, regardless of experience or level of English comprehension. With Play Date, learning English becomes fun. This is a place where you can practice speaking out loud, expand your vocabulary and meet new people. Play Date is produced by Crane Creations Theatre Company. Crane Creations is an immigrant led professional theatre company located in Mississauga, Ontario Canada. Join us for our next Play Date!