Full casting has been announced for the upcoming new stage production of Hanif Kureishi’s My Beautiful Laundrette – a co-production by Curve, Belgrade Theatre Coventry, Everyman Theatre Cheltenham and Leeds Playhouse – which runs at Leicester’s Curve from 20 September to 5 October 2019, before touring.
This bold new production of Kureishi‘s ground-breaking, Oscar-nominated screenplay will be directed by Curve’s Artistic Director, Nikolai Foster, and star Omar Malik as Omar and Jonny Fines as Johnny, the role which launched the career of Daniel Day-Lewis. Gordon Warnecke, who played the role of Omar in Stephen Frears’ 1985 film, will play Papa, Omar’s alcoholic but wise Father.
Completing the cast are Paddy Daly as Genghis and Dick O’Donnell, Kammy Darweish as Nasser, Hareet Deol as Salim, Nicole Jebeli as Tania, Balvinder Sopal as Bilquis and Moose, and Cathy Tyson as Rachel and Cherry.
Set in London during the Thatcher years, My Beautiful Laundrette tells the story of young British Pakistani, Omar, who transforms his Uncle’s run-down laundrette into a thriving business.
After being confronted by a fascist gang, Omar recognises school-friend Johnny and uses their history to diffuse the situation.
As they renovate the laundrette together, love blossoms between them.
This culture clash comedy is also a subversive work of social realism, sprinkled with magic and joy running through the rich veins of Kureishi’s writing.
My Beautiful Laundrette will be designed by Grace Smart and feature lighting design by Ben Cracknell, sound design by Tom Marshall, and fight direction by Kevin McCurdy.
