Cast Set For PEANUT BUTTER & BLUEBERRIES at Leeds Playhouse
Humera Syed and Kashif Ghole reprise their Kiln Theatre roles under director Sameena Hussain.
Leeds Playhouse has announced the cast for Peanut Butter & Blueberries – the hit debut play by playwright and poet Suhaiymah Manzoor-Khan.
Humera Syed (A Thousand Splendid Suns, Birmingham Rep; Expendable, Royal Court; Anita & Me, UK Tour) will play Hafsah, a role she originated in the play's sell-out world premiere at London's Kiln Theatre, and Kashif Ghole (Blue Mist, UK Tour, Boundless; Life of Pi, Asia Tour; Brown Boys Swim, UK Tour, North Wall) will play Bilal.
Peanut Butter & Blueberries is a key production in the Playhouse's AW26 Season, running in its Courtyard Theatre from 22 October – 7 November. It marks something of a homecoming for both the writer, who is from Leeds and was Writer-in-Residence at the Playhouse in 2021–22, and director Sameena Hussain, who was Associate Director at the Playhouse and returned earlier this year to direct the world premiere of Planet Omar.
Writer Suhaiymah Manzoor-Khan said: “Sameena and I have been awaiting this moment for so long – to bring Peanut Butter & Blueberries up to the north where we are both from, and where we feel the beating heart of this story lies: in characters who are hearty, warm and drily-funny. It's going to be so exciting to work with Humera and Kashif for this version of the play, and to see what magic happens once we're all in the rehearsal room together.”
Hafsah and Bilal aren't looking for love. They're at uni in London, far from home in Bradford and Brum; figuring out who they are and where they're going. Hafsah has her faith, her books and big ambitions. Bilal is just trying to get through his degree. When a peanut butter and blueberry sandwich brings them together, an unexpected connection begins.
But there's much more to Hafsah and Bilal's story. As their lives and ambitions pull them in different directions, faith, family, injustice and the realities of the world around them begin to test what they've found in each other.
Full of unexpected laughs – and unexpected tears – Peanut Butter & Blueberries is a sharp, contemporary story about growing up, finding your people and catching feelings for someone when life is anything but straightforward.
Prayer spaces will be available before and after performances, alongside the Playhouse's existing multi-faith reflection space. Throughout the run, the Terrace Bar (next to Box Office) will also become a dedicated non-alcoholic bar.
The creative team comprises Director Sameena Hussain, Writer Suhaiymah Manzoor-Khan, Set & Costume Designer Khadija Raza, Lighting Designer Rajiv Pattani, and Sound Designer Helen Skiera.
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