An Octagon Theatre Bolton, Citizens Theatre Glasgow & Wiltshire Creative Production, in association with Derby Theatre

East is East

Tue 20 - Sat 24 Oct, 2026

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Tue 20th October, 7.30pm
Price: £22.50, £29 + £33
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Wed 21st October, 7.30pm
Price: £22.50, £29 + £33
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Thu 22nd October, 2.30pm
Price: £22.50, £29 + £33
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Thu 22nd October, 7.30pm
BSL Interpreted Performance
Price: £22.50, £29 + £33
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Fri 23rd October, 7.30pm
Price: £25, £32 + £36
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Sat 24th October, 2.30pm
Live Audio Described Peformance
Price: £25, £32 + £36
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Sat 24th October, 7.30pm
Price: £25, £32 + £36
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Family can hold you together and tear you apart.

Salford, 1971. The Khan family are living above a chip shop and on the fault line between two cultures.

George Khan is determined the family is raised his Pakistani way. His English wife, Ella, just wants to keep the peace. Their seven children? They’re busy discovering disco, denim, and defiance.

When George begins arranging marriages for his sons, rebellion erupts and loyalties are tested. What follows is a hilarious and deeply moving battle between tradition and change.

Ayub Khan-Din’s modern classic blends razor-sharp comedy with moments of shocking honesty. East Is East is a story about identity, generational conflict, and the messy, unbreakable bonds of family.

Come for the laughs. Stay for the heart.

Venue

Main House

Overview

Time: 7:30pm & 2:30pm
Performance duration: 2 hours 25 mins (including interval)
Age guidance: 14+
Advisories: This is an autobiographical play set in the 1970s. It contains themes of racism and domestic abuse as well as strong language from the era, including homophobic language and references to suicide.

Pricing

Standard: £22.50 - £36
Under 26s: £20.25 - £32.40 (10% off)
Groups: 25% off (all bands on weekday performances)
Schools: £20 plus one free ticket with every 10 purchased (weekday performances only)
Friends: 10% off

Accessible Performances Available

Live Audio Described Peformance BSL Interpreted Performance

Watch Now

East is East (2026) | In Rehearsal Trailer

Help & Support

East Is East explores family relationships, conflict, control and cultural expectations. The production includes themes and scenes relating to domestic abuse and violence which some audience members may find distressing.
If anything you see or hear during the performance affects you, or reflects experiences in your own life, support and information are available.
For information about local and national services for people affected by domestic abuse, please visit Derby City Life Links.

East Is East explores themes of race, culture, identity, prejudice and family conflict. We recognise that some of the language, attitudes and experiences represented within the production may be upsetting or uncomfortable.
Derby Theatre is proud to have signed up to No Place for Hate Derby, standing alongside organisations across the city to make clear that hate, discrimination, bullying and harassment will not be tolerated.
We are committed to promoting dignity, equality and respect, and to creating a welcoming and inclusive space for everyone.
If you experience or witness a hate incident while visiting Derby Theatre, including racism, discrimination, harassment or abuse, please speak to a member of our team. Our staff can support you and help you access information about reporting what has happened.
A hate incident is any incident perceived by the victim or another person to be motivated by prejudice or hatred, including because of someone’s race, colour or ethnic origin, nationality, religion or belief, gender or gender identity, sexuality, disability, lifestyle or dress.
Together, we are stronger. With one voice, we stand with Derby in saying there is No Place for Hate.
For more information about reporting a hate incident, please visit: Derby City Council’s hate crime information page.

Meet the Cast

Bhasker Patel

George

Samantha Power

Ella

Zaki Ali

Tariq

Victoria Brazier

Auntie Annie

Sushil Chudasama

Doctor/ Mr Shah

Maya Dhokia

Meenah

Matthew Khan

Saleem

Joeravar Sangha

Maneer

Danyal Ismail

Abdul

Rohan MacLeod

Sajit

Zoe Iqbal

Off-stage female swing

Rahul Sidhu

Off-stage male swing

Creatives

Ayub Khan Din

Writer

Kash Arshad

Director

Rachana Jadhav

Designer

Olivia Barr

Casting Director

Gabriella Shimeld-Fenn

Casting Director

Jane Lalljee

Lighting Designer

Kaitlin Howard

Fight Director

Jennifer Kay

Movement Director

Natalie Grady

Dialect Coach

BIG SAVINGS – once they are gone, they are gone.

Book by 10 July to receive 10% off your total booking, valid on all performances and all seats. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion or discount.

Ticket Types & Prices

  • Book by 10 July to receive 15% off tickets, valid across all seating bands and all performances.

  • 25% off for groups of 10 or more, available on all weekday performances and prices bands.

  • £17.50 per person for groups of 10 or more, plus one free ticket for every 11 purchased, when booked and paid for by 10 July. Valid on weekday performances only.

View Dates and Book

Tue 20th October, 7.30pm
Price: £22.50, £29 + £33
Wed 21st October, 7.30pm
Price: £22.50, £29 + £33
Thu 22nd October, 2.30pm
Price: £22.50, £29 + £33
Thu 22nd October, 7.30pm
BSL Interpreted Performance
Price: £22.50, £29 + £33
Fri 23rd October, 7.30pm
Price: £25, £32 + £36
Sat 24th October, 2.30pm
Live Audio Described Peformance
Price: £25, £32 + £36
Sat 24th October, 7.30pm
Price: £25, £32 + £36