Nick Ahad's A MUSLAMIC LOVE STORY Set for Bradford Premiere 7-8 June

A new play from Nick Ahad is set to explore the untold story of racial and gay politics in modern Britain. A Muslamic Love Story will have its premiere at the Theatre in the Mill, University of Bradford on Thursday 7th and Friday 8th June at 7.30pm.

Dan and Kasim are a mixed race gay couple living in fear and happiness in a Northern town. Their love for each other is total, but Kasim cannot reconcile being both gay and Muslim.

When a black British man comes into their lives, his views on race, Islam and homosexuality brings their relationship, life choices - and their lives - into question.

Three lives collide in a story of race, racism, hate and love in a new play that tells an untold story of contemporary Britain.

Playwright and director Nick Ahad said: “Just a few months ago three Muslim men in Derby were jailed for handing out leaflets calling for gay people to face the death penalty. At the same time membership of fascist, Islam phobic groups like the BNP is increasing.

“At a time when minorities need to stand together against prejudice, far right factions like the English Defence league boast high profile Asian members, with a Sikh man in the organization’s inner circle.

“Racism, homophobia and Islaamophobia are terrifyingly rife in Britain today. My play addresses those issues.

“It’s also a love story. I’ve always loved plays that put people in a pressure cooker and turn up the heat on the characters, which is what I hope A Muslamic Love Story will do.”

Nick Ahad is a full time arts journalist who has worked at the Yorkshire Post since 2004. He has written and directed several short films, commissioned by Bradford City of Film, as well as trained as a playwright with West Yorkshire Playhouse and with renowned television writers including Mark Catley (Casualty) and Lisa Holdsworth (Fat Friends, New Tricks, Emmerdale). His debut film starred Dominic Gately (Kes, The Diary of Anne Frank) and Deborah McAndrew (Angie Watts (nee Freeman) in Coronation Street). He has trained as a director with London based Asian theatre company Tamasha (East is East) and in Autumn 2011 his play Nor Any Drop toured schools in Yorkshire, produced by Oldham theatre company Peshkar and Leeds theatre company Red Ladder.

A Muslamic Love Story is produced in association with The Hub, Leeds and Theatre in the Mill, Bradford.

Tickets for A Muslamic Love Story are priced at £5 and can be purchased at the Box Office on 01274 233200 or online at www.brad.ac.uk/theatre