East Is East- Octagon Theatre, Bolton

Writer: Ayub Khan Din

Director: Kash Arshad

Octagon Theatre, Bolton, marks the 30^thanniversary of Ayub Khan Din’s East Is East in an unusual manner. During the interval audiences are given the option to purchase a portion of chips in addition to the usual drinks and snacks.

In 1970s Salford, George Khan (Bhasker Patel) runs a fish and chip shop with his wife Ella (Samantha Power) and their children. He raises his family in the Pakistani tradition but is blind to the impact upon them of cultural and generational changes which have arisen since he immigrated to the UK in 1930. George’s eldest child (who does not appear in the play) is so alienated from his family he is regarded as dead by his father despite protests from his mother that he is merely living in Eccles. Son Tariq (Zaki Ali) despises George’s principles to such an extent that, despite being of Pakistani descent, he regards Pakistani values with contempt and uses racist language. Youngest son Sajit (Rohan Macleod) is so neurotic he hides behind, and refuses to remove, his increasingly unhygienic parka.

Without consulting his family George has made arrangements for his sons Tariq and Abdul (Danyal Ismail) to be married to the daughters of Mr Shah (Sushil Chudasama) whom they have never met. When George faces opposition to his plans he is unable to cope and resorts to violence.

Bhasker Patel choses to emphasise the confusion, vulnerability and dignity of a character who is written as a petty tyrant. Patel portrays George Khan as someone unable to cope with change; he firmly believes his actions are in the best interests of his family and is outraged that others do not see things his way. Initially this is shown in a humorous manner- George is furious his youngest child has reached adolescence without being circumcised- but the mood rapidly becomes darker.

George’s resorting to violence against his children and wife is shown as pathetic, a childish brutal response to being unable to shape events in his desired manner. The complexity of the situation is not, however, ignored.  A powerful wordless sequence has son Abdul observing his father at prayer making clear George’s motives are sincere even though his actions are misguided and he is hopelessly out of his emotional depth.

Samantha Power plays wife Ella as a barrier to George’s excesses constantly reminding him of the reality of the situation which he would like to ignore. Power has some of the best dialogue in the play including rejecting Mr Shah with the stinging remark that while her children may be half-cast at least, unlike his daughters, they are not inbred. Yet Ella is fully aware of the gravity of the situation pointing out if George is willing to consent to ill-thought out arrangements for the marriage of his sons then his daughter is likely to receive even less consideration.

As well as cultural and generational aspects East Is East reflects social class snobbery. In an effort to appease Mr Shah, daughter Mennah (Maya Dhokia) is persuaded to put aside her usual casual western clothes and wear a sari only to be pompously informed it is not an authentic traditional sari.

Director Kash Arshad sets a warm but realistically chaotic family atmosphere. It is a restless production, during scene changes the cast push and shove each other in the manner of squabbling siblings. Maya Dhokia excels in the scenes as a bratty younger child trying to gain attention.

The set design by Rachana Jadhav is deceptive; the opening appearance is in the tradition of Coronation Street with lines of washing pegged out to dry and the rooftops of terraced houses in the distance. But cast expand the set, unfolding sections to form the fryer of the fish and chip shop, and appearing on a balcony overlooking the town.

The thirtieth anniversary production of Ayub Khan Din’s East Is East demonstrates the play retains the power to both shock and entertain.  Yet the balanced and insightful approach taken by Octagon Theatre, Bolton, makes it possible to perceive and sympathise with the motives of the central character rather than simply condemn George Khan for his monstrous behaviour.

Runs until 3^rd October 2026