Slam poet Zia Ahmed’s play ‘I Wanna Be Yours’ is being taken to the community after its Playhouse run.
For the past nine years, the Playhouse has been sharing productions in non-traditional settings for theatre. I Wanna Be Yours joins productions such as Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads and David Peace’s The Damned United, bringing the joy of live theatre to the local community. Venues include Gipton Fire Station, Leeds Anglers Club and Chapel FM.
I Wanna Be Yours is directed by Sameena Hussain, with Eva Scott and Usman Nawaz starring as Ella and Haseeb, a young couple working to sustain their relationship across cultural divides.
Associate Director Sameena is excited to experience her first community tour: “I can’t wait to share this beautiful piece of theatre with audiences across the city. The play is about the journeys we make and the way two people move together in the world. I have definitely had the community tour in mind when working with the company as that is exactly what we will be doing – journeying to different spaces and engaging with communities in a meaningful way.”
Head of Creative Communities at Leeds Playhouse Fiona McCulloch-Exley: “Every year, the tour is greeted with such generosity and warmth across the City. It’s an integral feature of our work within the Leeds communities. It’s a privilege to see the impact of bringing these stories to people’s doorsteps; whether it be families discovering theatre together for the first time or a passerby taking a chance and grabbing a ticket on the door – really special moments made it magic!”
Bradford-based Warda Abbasi, Leeds Playhouse’s Resident Designer, has worked with Sameena to create the world of Ella and Haseeb, alongside Lighting Designer, Jane Laljee; Sound Designer & Composer Eilon Morris; Assistant Director Kirsty Taylor, and Casting Director Lucy Casson.
Tickets for the community tour can be booked for just £3. Communities can also take part in a free 2-hour workshop around the themes of the play, packed full of fun, drama, movement, and creative arts activities.
TOUR DATES
Tuesday 17 May: St Aidan’s Church Community Hall, Harehills
Wednesday 18 May: HOPS, Hawksworth Wood Village Hall
Friday 20 May: Middleton Parochial Hall
Saturday 21 May: Gipton Fire Station
Monday 23 May: RJC Mandela Centre Chapeltown
Tuesday 24 May: Leeds Anglers Club, Burmantofts
Wednesday 25 May: Hamara Centre, Beeston
Friday 27 May: New Wortley Community Centre
Saturday 28 May: Chapel FM, Seacroft
Box office 0113 213 7700.
Book online leedsplayhouse.org.uk
Photography by Anthony Robling. Feature photograph: The cast and creatives of I Wanna Be Yours 2022.
