Dial 1 for UK at Riverside Studios

Rooted in writer and performer Mohit Mathur’s own experiences of moving to London from Mumbai, his debut play explores the dreams of those who journey West in search of a better life only to discover a reality far removed from their fantasies. Dial 1 for UK follows New Delhi call centre worker Uday Kumar (UK), who by night answers panicked calls to a crypto helpline, and by day fills his YouTube channel with visions of a sophisticated new life of affluence, fish and chips and tea with the British Royal Family. When a chance encounter offers him the opportunity to make the leap, he boards a flight to London brimming with hope for a glittering new life. But the reality of daily existence in Hounslow as an immigrant care worker proves starkly different from the dream he nurtured in India as he navigates racism, broken promises of long-term accommodation, people trafficking and loneliness. Dial 1 for UK shines a light on the challenges and realities of migration with humour, heart and hope.