10 Nights

Shahid Iqbal Khan

• Publisher: Methuen Drama
• Year: 2021
• ISBN:
  9781350292765
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Media & Performing Arts
• Subtopic: Theatre Playwriting

Nominated for the 2022 Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Affiliate Theatre One man's spiritual journey is about to begin… after he's sent this tweet When Yasser decides to take part in itikaf, sleeping and fasting in the mosque for the last ten nights of Ramadan, he soon regrets his decision. But as he navigates smug worshippers, shared bathrooms, and recurring thoughts of chunky chips, Yasser's isolation forces him to confront a side of himself he's been trying to keep hidden. A moving and funny new play by Shahid Iqbal Khan, 10 Nights is the story of one man's journey of self-discovery and facing the consequences of your actions.

Shahid Iqbal Khan – Writer

Shahid Iqbal Khan’s foray into creative writing began with a short play for Carol Godby’s Festival of Plays (Met Theatre, Bury). He joined the Manchester Muslim Writers’ group not long after, a collective that inspired him to explore and compose poetry.

He was Associate Artist for Phizzical Productions and is an alumnus of Graeae Theatre’s prestigious Write to Play programme.

Theatre credits: The Smile of Despair (Attenborough Arts Centre), Stardust (Belgrade Theatre), Never Been Away (2020: Collection 1) (Tara Theatre).

Audio credits: The Return (That Podcast) (English Touring Theatre / Storyglass), Bhavika (Connections) (Naked Productions), Brandlesholme (Sheltering) (BBC Radio 4).

Shahid Iqbal Khan is part of BBC Writersroom Writers Access Group (20/21) and Writers Group co-led by Royal Court Theatre and Deafinitely Theatre (20/21).

Kash Arshad – Director

Kash is a mixed heritage (Scottish/Pakistani) theatre director based in Halifax, West Yorkshire.

His recent directing credits include: Mountains, Moon Landing and Parallels – Part of Beyond Chinatown Signal Fires Project (New Earth Theatre Company), 13 and Love and Information (ALRA North), Stolen Rainbows (M6 Theatre Company), Guards at the Taj (Theatre by the Lake), Black Teeth and a Brilliant Smile and BD Stories (Freedom Studios), Airplays (Leeds Playhouse), Selfies Kill More People Than Sharks (Oldham Coliseum), Memories of Partition (Royal Exchange), Free Fall (Rogue Bones).

As Assistant Director: Threepenny Opera (Octagon Bolton, dir. David Thacker), Handbagged (Theatre By The Lake, dir. Liz Stevenson), North Country (Freedom Studios for. Alex Chisholm), ChipShop The Musical (Freedom Studios/Octagon Bolton dir. Ben Occhipinti), Romeo and Juliet (West Yorkshire Playhouse, dir. Amy Leach).

He is also an Associate Artist for National Youth Theatre, Mentor Director for National Theatre Connections and Director for New Earth Theatre’s North West acting Academy.

Lilac Yosiphon – Associate Director

Lilac is a freelance director and theatre maker, and the artistic director of Althea Theatre. She is endorsed by Arts Council England as a promising Exceptional Talent in the UK. She is an MGCFutures Bursary recipient and was a finalist for the JMK Award 2019.

Directing credits include Stuck with You (Crips without Constraints Part 2, Graeae), Rent (Mountview), Heroes (Work in progress, Vault Festival, nominated for an Origins Award for New Work), The Glass Will Shatter (Omnibus Theatre & UK Tour), Home Sweet Home (Stratford Circus, Jackson’s Lane & ARC Stockton), Jericho’s Rose (co-directed with Mike Cole and Annie-Lunnette Deakin-Foster, Hope Theatre & Theatre Deli Sheffield), One Last Thing (For Now) (Old Red Lion Theatre, nominated for an Off-West-End Award for Best Ensemble).

As assistant/associate director: The Tempest R&D (Graeae, dir. Jenny Sealey), The Dark Room (Theatre503, dir. Audrey Sheffield), Dyl (Old Red Lion, dir. Clive Judd), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Puzzelwood & UK Tour, dir. Aileen Gonsalves), The Playboy of the Western World (Southwark Playhouse, dir Polina Kalinina), As You Like It (Kent’s Cavern & UK Tour, dir. Hayley Cusick), Armstrong’s War (Finborough Theatre, dir. Jennifer Bakst).

Lilac also facilitates workshops for Graeae, Mountview, Guildhall and National Youth Theatre.

Khadija Raza – Designer

Khadija Raza is a set and costume designer based in London. She was one of the winners of the Linbury Prize (2017) and won the Stage Debut Award for Best Designer, 2018.

Selected credits include: Bach & Sons (Bridge Theatre), The Bee in Me (Unicorn Theatre), History of Water in the Middle East (Royal Court), American Dream 2.0 (Young Vic) and Hijabi Monologues (Bush Theatre).

Sara Burns – Lighting Designer

Recent theatre includes: Hello and Goodbye (Athol Fugard/York Theatre Royal), Yellow is the Colour of Sunshine, The Boy Who Cried Wolf, Rapunzel (Tutti Frutti); Colder Than Here (Laura Wade); Blue Stockings (Jessica Swale); The Beggars of York (Don Walls).

Other theatre includes: Hamlet, King Lear, Romeo & Juliet, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Twelfth Night, The Comedy of Errors, As You Like It (RSC); Magic of the Musicals, Hollywood and Broadway, Dancing in the Streets, Cinderella on Ice, Wayne Sleep’s Ready, Steady, Dance (Europe/Touring); What a Feeling! (West End).

Television work includes: Lee Evans – Monsters, Roadrunner, BIG and XL (Off the Kerb/Open Mike); Michael McIntyre – Showtime and Hello Wembley (Off the Kerb/Open Mike); Cambridge Folk Festivals – Main Stage (BBC/Sky Arts); Jack Dee Live at the Apollo (Open Mike/Off the Kerb).

Sara also lectures in Technical Theatre and Lighting Design.

Sara is delighted to be part of this creative team...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Contents
• 10 Nights
• Cast
• Safyan Iqbal – Yasser
• Shahid Iqbal Khan – Writer
• 10 Nights
• Notes on Character and Performance
• Scene One
• Scene Two
• Scene Three
• Scene Four
• Scene Five
• Scene Six
• Scene Seven
• Scene Eight
• Scene Nine
• Scene Ten
• Scene Eleven
• Scene Twelve
• Scene Thirteen
• eCopyright