The Working Theatre’s 1947 Opens This Month
The Bristol-based play comes to the Arnolfini
The world premiere of a new British play opens at the Arnolfini this month. The Working Theatre’s 1947 is a 3-act social horror from writer and director Zahid Fayyaz.
1947 is set in Bristol and tells the story of the British Pakistani Khan family. It’s written in the tradition of plays such as those by Arthur Miller, Clifford Odets and August Wilson. The company – which features actors from Netflix, ITV and even film – spent two weeks living together and rehearing the play using the methodology of Harold Clurman and the American Group Theatre.
The Working Theatre company was co-founded by Zahid Fayyaz and actor-playwright Michael Kodi Farrow, aiming to create work and tell stories drawn from British Pakistani and diaspora experience.
The play tells the story of the Khan family who are living in contemporary Bristol. When the father, who has been working as a cab driver for thirty years faces a retirement blow, it’s down to the mother to continue holding everything together. The son tries to be everything the family sacrifice was supposed to be for. The daughter has spent her life trying to be the ‘steady one’.
1947 explores themes of duty, obligation, the weight of inheritance and long-buried tensions that begin to rise to the surface.
The play has been funded by Arts Council England. The company are running a Suspended Ticket initiative. This is a scheme where industry professionals and members of the public have donated seats for people who cannot afford to attend.
“This play is about a community that has rarely seen itself on stage,” Zahid Fayyaz says.
“We want the people it speaks to most directly to be in that room. The Suspended Ticket exists to make that possible.”
Anyone wishing to receive a suspended ticket is invited to email theworkingtheatre@gmail.com
No explanation is required and no questions will be asked.
1947 is at the Arnolfini 10 – 12 September 2026
There will be a post-show Q&A on Thursday 10 September and Saturday 12 September (matinee)
For more information and to book, visit: https://arnolfini.org.uk/whatson/1947-workingtheatre/
Cast and Creatives
Written and Directed by Zahid Fayyaz
Assistant Director and Stage Manager – Chris Abreu Lyons
Set and Costume Design – Zulfa AlAnesi
Stage Builder – Andrew George Whisker
Graphic Design – Liam Earle
PC Quinton / Council Official – Jack Edwards
Salma – Priya Blackburn
Riz – Amar Chaggar
Mother – Meneka Das
Mason – Michael Kodi Farrow
Reynah – Kerena Jagpal
Father – Arif Javid
Nas – Rico Morris
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