Following the critically acclaimed co-production of Noughts & Crosses in 2019, both organisations are thrilled to be presenting their next production in a series of work for young audiences.
This premiere of award-winning Australian playwright S. Shakthidharan’s adaptation of Zana Fraillon’s vivid, and deeply moving story for young adults about a Rohingya refugee boy who has spent his entire life living in a detention centre in Australia.
The Bone Sparrow cast will feature:
- Yaamin Chowdhury (Let Kilburn Shake, Kiln Theatre and soon to be seen in Apple TV’s The Essex Serpent alongside Tom Hiddleston and Claire Danes and Sky’s upcoming action-drama Extinction) as Subhi;
- Mary Roubos (Separate Doors, Chichester Festival Theatre and The Tempest, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre) as Jimmie; Elmi Rashid Elmi (Dune, Warner Brothers and soon to be seen in The Swimmers by Jack Thorne and onstage in the award-winning Barber Shop Chronicles, Fuel and National Theatre) as Eli;
- Jum Faruq (Five Little Christmas Monkeys, Baby Panda in association with Park Theatre) as Duck;
- Kiran L Dadlani (Ackley Bridge, Channel 4; Coronation Street and Cold Feet, ITV) as Maa;
- Siobhan Athwal (Wasted, Southwark Playhouse; Bend it Like Beckham, Phoenix Theatre and Viva Forever, Piccadilly Theatre) as Queenie;
- Devesh Kishore (Guards at The Taj Theatre by the Lake and Gangsta Granny, Birmingham Stage) as Harvey/ Ba/ Nasir;
- Mackenzie Scott (Michael Morpurgo’s King’s Arthur, Edinburgh Fringe Festival) as Beaver.
“It is a classic coming of age story: and yet, so much more.”Playwright S Shakthidharan
Playwright S. Shakthidharan said:
“So often we are beaten down by the world. We reshape ourselves to fit into it. Subhi’s story is different. In The Bone Sparrow this imaginative young boy discovers within himself a strength that will change the world around him.
It is a classic coming of age story: and yet, so much more. The Bone Sparrow is by turns a wondrous tale of epic, mythical adventure; a realistic appraisal of what it means to grow up without freedom; and a vision of renewed solidarity across our supposed divisions.
I have had a great deal of fun collaborating with Pilot to develop a grand theatricality for this work and deepen its relationship with the Rohingya community. I hope audiences are as delighted and moved by this story as we were in the process of adapting it.”
“Subhi’s story is different.”Playwright S Shakthidharan
Theatre for Younger Audiences
The Bone Sparrow will be the third co-production between Derby Theatre, Pilot Theatre, Belgrade Theatre Coventry, Mercury Theatre Colchester, and York Theatre Royal who, in 2018, formed a new partnership to develop theatre for younger audiences.
Whilst out on tour several of the connected education projects with the consortium partners will be working with local sanctuary-seeker and migrant communities.
Tour Venues
Directed by Pilot Theatre’s Artistic Director Esther Richardson, The Bone Sparrow opened at York Theatre Royal from 25 February – 5 March 2022 and will tour to Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds, Derby Theatre, Mercury Theatre Colchester, Belgrade Theatre Coventry, and Theatre Peckham.