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BY ASIF KHAN
We’re in Bradford. It’s been a few months since Jabala’s beloved Mum died. Dad is a brilliant father, but it’s an effort to get to school on time every day.
One morning, when she says goodbye to her house as usual, Jabala hears a voice replying to her in Arabic. But no one’s there. Could it be Mum? Has she imagined it?
With the help of a ‘Refugee Boy’ at school, a Shakespeare enthusiast called Munir, she summons… a Jinn. But this is no ordinary ‘Jinn’, as told in grandma’s stories and Jabala is in for a surprise.
As the day of Eid approaches, events take a drastic turn and Jabala is forced to make some difficult decisions. Will things come together in time for the big celebration?
Combining physical theatre, original music and vivid design, this new play by award-winning writer Asif Khan is a funny and endearing story for the whole family.
JABALA AND THE JINN – Nominated as a finalist for BEST STAGE PRODUCTION at the ASIAN MEDIA AWARDS 2021.
REVIEWS
“Asif Khan’s well-written play draws the audience in with this charming adventurous tale, both children and adults alike will be captivated by this heart-warming story.” – West End Best Friend ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“a beautiful reminder of the power of live performance. This production had me hooked from the get-go. I loved it.”
– Beyond The Curtain ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Bursting with energy…fresh and fast-moving” – British Theatre Guide
“there is lots of humour in Jabala and the Jinn but wrapped up in the fun are lots of messages around acceptance, love, friendship and difference.” – Weekend Notes
“Fun, charming and thoughtful” – BrumHour
“a piece of drama which explores complex themes on growing up, honesty, and friendship. A lovely, multi-layered performance.” – Lou Reviews
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Asif was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire and attended Salt Grammar School, Baildon. He now lives in South London. Before attending drama school he studied at The University of Bradford (BSc Electronic Imaging & Media Communications). Trained at The Royal Academy Of Dramatic Art (RADA) and is an award-winning actor.
Theatre includes: Hamlet, The Cherry Orchard (Theatre Royal Windsor), Tartuffe (RSC/Birmingham Rep Theatre), A Kind Of People (Royal Court), When The Crows Visit (Kiln Theatre), Love, Bombs & Apples (The Kennedy Center, Washington DC), Tartuffe (Royal Shakespeare Company), Love, Bombs & Apples (San Francisco & UK Tour), A Passage To India (Simple8/Royal & Derngate/Park Theatre), Love, Bombs & Apples (Edinburgh Festival Fringe, 2017), The Hypocrite (RSC/HullTruck), Paradise of the Assassins (Tara Arts), Love, Bombs & Apples (Arcola & UK Tour 2016), Handbagged (UK Tour 2015, Kiln/Tricycle Theatre/Eleanor Lloyd Productions), Love, Bombs & Apples (Arcola Theatre 2015), Punjabi Boy (RichMix), Multitudes (Kiln/Tricycle Theatre), The Nutcracker & The Mouse King (Unicorn Theatre), The Book (Flying Cloud), Queen of the Nile (HullTruck), Kabaddi Kabaddi Kabaddi (Arcola Theatre), The Snow Queen (Unicorn Theatre/ Trestle), Snookered (Tamasha/ Bush Theatre), Mixed Up North (Out of Joint), Twelfth Night (National Theatre), Playback (Ankur Productions).
Screen work includes: Hamlet (Feature Film/BKL Productions), Diana & I (BBC2), Love Type D (Feature Film/ Midnight Circus Films), Spooks (Series 10), Doctor Who, The Dumping Ground, Doctors, Casualty (BBC). Dark Matters, Terry Pratchett’s Going Postal (Sky1), Man Down, Stath Lets Flats, Bradford Riots and ‘Plot to Bring Down Britain’s Planes’ (Channel 4) .
As a Writer
COMBUSTION – Selected as one of 6 new plays for the Arcola Theatre’s playWROUGHT#2 Festival, 2014. Progressed through to the final stage of the BBC Writers Room Script Room 8 Scheme. Produced by AIK productions and Tara Arts (2017). Directed by Nona Shepphard. Published by Aurora Metro Books.
IMAAM IMRAAN – Produced by the National Youth Theatre, premiere at Kala Sangam Theatre, as part of the Bradford Literature Festival, 2019. Directed by Iqbal Khan
JAMIL’S LEGENDARY STAG NIGHT – Commissioned by Rifco Theatre Company & Watford Palace Theatre. A new full length play supported by the Channel 4 Playwrights’ Scheme. Had a first public reading at the RADA Festival 2019, July 4th. Directed by Pravesh Kumar.
WILLKOMMEN – A play on Migration for teenagers. Commissioned by Tamasha & The Migration Museum and performed by students at Landau Forte College (Derby). Directed by Esther Richardson. Published by Methuen Drama in a collection titled ‘Migration Plays’.
THE LADY – Commissioned by Tamasha. Performed by students from Swansea School at RichMix & Theatre Royal Stratford East. In 2019 it was performed by schools in Derby and Coventry. Directed by Cheryl May Ndione & Kate Hibbert.
TIGHT BASTARDS – Performed as a reading at the Soho Theatre for Tamasha Theatre (2015) and at Theatre503 (2016). Currently developing full length play
THE PLOT – Performed as a reading at the Soho Theatre for NEW MUSLIM VOICES, Sept 2016, as part of the Tamasha Scratch Night – Commissioned by Tamasha. Recently commissioned to develop the full length play with Tamasha
DIRTY SHINY BRADFORD – A television comedy developed with BBC Comedy Room and co-writer with Philip D McQuillan.
FLIGHT – A short film for the Young Muslim Voices Project, produced by Voices Of London.
THIS WEIRD NORMAL – A new five-part audio fiction podcast written by Stella Kammel, Asif Khan and Susan Wokoma. Produced by RADA.
A THREE YEAR OLD IN LOCKDOWN – IMAGINATION, 19 of the UK’s most exciting writers have written a collection of stories for the nation, exploring humanity and the unprecedented circumstances we’ve been living in during 2020. Produced by Theatre Centre and Theatre 503.
NOAH AND THE BUMBLE BEES OF BIRMINGHAM – A new play commissioned by Birmingham Rep Theatre.
JABALA AND THE JINN – AIK productions & Turtle Key Arts in association with Kala Sangam and Belgrade Theatre.
Previous member of the Tamasha Playwrights Group, the Arcola’s Middle Eastern, Asian and North African writers group & BBC Comedy Room.
On the ‘BBC New Talent Hotlist 2017 ‘ for new writers.
Part of NATIONWIDE VOICES 2020 with English Touring Theatre.
AWARDS
RADA – Won a Laurence Olivier Bursary Award. Won a Sir Alec Guinness Memorial Award and selected for Sir John Gielgud Bursary (2009). Stage Fighting – Won the Henry Marshall Award (2007)
PLOT TO BRING DOWN BRITAINS PLANES (Channel 4) – BAFTA Winner 2013
ADOPT A PLAYWRIGHT AWARD (OffWestEnd.Com) – Nominated and Final Shortlist
BEAM AWARDS 2017 – Nominated for The Male Actor of the Year Award
CHANNEL 4 PLAYWRIGHTS’ SCHEME 2018 – WINNER. The scheme celebrates emerging British playwriting talent and has been supported by Channel 4 for the past five years
EASTERN EYE ARTS, CULTURE & THEATRE AWARDS 2017 – Nominated as a finalist for BEST ACTOR (Theatre) for Love, Bombs & Apples.
EASTERN EYE ARTS, CULTURE & THEATRE AWARDS 2018 – Nominated as a finalist for BEST ACTOR (Theatre) for A Passage To India.
EASTERN EYE ARTS, CULTURE & THEATRE AWARDS 2019 – Nominated as a finalist for BEST ACTOR (Theatre) for Tartuffe.
LOVE, BOMBS & APPLES – WINNER of OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION at Theatre Bay Area Awards 2018 (US Debut).
LOVE, BOMBS & APPLES – Nominated as a finalist for BEST STAGE PRODUCTION at the ASIAN MEDIA AWARDS 2016.
LOVE, BOMBS & APPLES – Nominated as a finalist for BEST STAGE PRODUCTION at EASTERN EYE ARTS, CULTURE & THEATRE AWARDS 2017.
LOVE, BOMBS & APPLES – Long-listed for an Amnesty Freedom Of Expression Award 2017
COMBUSTION – WINNER of BEST STAGE PRODUCTION at the Asian Media Awards 2017
COMBUSTION – WINNER of BEST PRODUCTION at EASTERN EYE ARTS, CULTURE & THEATRE AWARDS 2018
COMBUSTION – Nominated for Two OFFWESTEND Awards inc BEST NEW PLAY & MALE PERFORMANCE IN A SUPPORTING ROLE.
COMBUSTION – Nominated for a STAGE DEBUT AWARD 2017 for Best Writer.
COMBUSTION – Nominated as a Finalist for Best Poster Design at Theatre & Technology Awards 2017.
IMAAM IMRAAN – Nominated for BEST WRITER at EASTERN EYE ARTS, CULTURE & THEATRE AWARDS 2021.
JABALA AND THE JINN – Nominated as a finalist for BEST STAGE PRODUCTION at the ASIAN MEDIA AWARDS 2021.
SNOOKERED – Nominated for BEST NEW PLAY & BEST ENSEMBLE CAST by Off West End Theatre Awards 2012.
SNOOKERED – WINNER of BEST NEW PLAY at the Manchester Theatre Awards 2013
THE HYPOCRITE – Nominated for BEST REGIONAL PRODUCTION at the WHATSONSTAGE Awards 2018
TARTUFFE – WINNER of BEST PRODUCTION at EASTERN EYE ARTS, CULTURE & THEATRE AWARDS 2019
A KIND OF PEOPLE – Nominated as a finalist for BEST STAGE PRODUCTION at the ASIAN MEDIA AWARDS 2020.
BOX OF TRICKS & SKY STUDIOS SCREEN/PLAY AWARD – Shortlist.
See more of Asif here
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