Pauline McLynn Joins EAST IS EAST on Tour

According to the Daily Mail, Pauline McLynn will take over the role of 'Ella Khan' from Jane Horrocks in EAST IS EAST on tour. McLynn is known for her roles in the TV series EASTENDERS, FATHER FIGURE and SHAMELESS.

Ayub Khan Din's play, which recently ended a successful run at Traf Transformed, will bring original cast members Ashley Kumar, Darren Kuppan and Sally Banks on the road. Khan Din, who starred onstage at Trafalagar, will not appear in the traveling production.

Sam Yates returns to direct the tour, which launches at Theatre Royal in Brighton on June 11 and continues to Aylesbury, Woking, Bromley, Torquay and Glasgow.

EAST IS EAST centers on a married couple raising children in Salford and is based on Khan Din's own childhood experiences. Khan Din wrote EAST IS EAST in 1997 for the Royal Court Theatre. The production was nominated for a 1998 Olivier Award for Best New Comedy. A 1999 film version, adapted by Khan Din, starred Om Puri as the father and Linda Bassett as the mother.

Khan Din's other works include Rafta, Rafta..., which opened in 2007 at the Royal National Theatre. West is West, a movie sequel to East is East, debuted in 2010.