Coconut – a contemporary British Pakistani writer explores the implications of religion in modern romance

The Thelmas: Coconut
Ovalhouse, Kennington: 11th – 28th April 2018
UK Tour: 16th May – 30th June 2018

Based on writer Guleraana Mir’s real experience of interracial and intercultural
relationships, Coconut will embark on a UK tour this summer. This fresh new play challenges dated Asian female stereotypes with an honest portrait of the contemporary British Asian experience. With its unremitting humour, Mir explores the impact of religion and faith – and the lack of it – in modern romance

As her faith wanes, Rumi enjoys a glass of wine and a bacon sandwich more than a trip to the mosque. A British Pakistani woman, born and raised a Muslim, she may have hit the jackpot with Simon who is willing to convert to Islam to keep her family happy. But, as Simon begins to explore his faith, Rumi’s world begins to spin off its axis

Coconut will see the professional debut of Kuran Dohil as Rumi. The cast will also include Jimmy Carter (The Giant Killers, Edinburgh Fringe; Othello, Baron Court’s Theatre; Romeo and Juliet, Iris Theatre) as Simon and Tibu Fortes (A Midsummer’s Night Dream, Shakespeare’s Globe; Requiem, BBC/Netflix; People Just do Nothing, BBC3) who will play Riz and the Imam

Although irreverent in tone, this dark comedy tackles grey areas of emotional and religious coercion. Coconut refers to the controversial term used to describe someone who is brown on the outside and white on the inside and this production does not shy away from interrogating the contemporary British Asian experience

Mir’s writing is side-achingly funny at times … and deeply affecting at others … hits both a zeitgeist and the universality of coming to terms with your own identity.(FemaleArts)

Writer Guleraana Mir explains, Coconut is a story I don’t see being told, it is genuinely representative of the realities of living in a multicultural society; relatable, regardless of what culture you’re from. It was very important to me, when creating the characters of Rumi and Simon, that they were honest, both to themselves and each other. Sometimes that honesty is hilariously funny, and other times it is painfully uncomfortable. But at the heart of the play is a woman trying to stay truthful to herself, in a way that we wouldn’t really expect from an Asian stereotype, which is why audiences have loved her

Beginning life as a fifteen minute monologue produced as part of the Camden Fringe, the current production of Coconut is the result of research, development and support from the New Diorama Theatre’s BAMER programme, Diorama Arts Studios and Park Theatre’s Script Accelerator programme. The production is funded by Arts Council England. This tour is supported by In Good Company, the East Midlands’ flagship artist professional development programme

Tour Dates

11th -28th April Ovalhouse, London
52-54 Kennington, Oval, London, SE11 5SW

16th May ARC Stockton Arts Centre, Stockton on Tees
Dovecot Street, Stockton on Tees, TS18 1LL

19th May Derby Theatre, Derby
15 Theatre Walk, St Peter’s Quarter, Derby, DE1 2NF

24th May Oldham Coliseum, Oldham
Fairbottom Street, Oldham, OL1 3SW

26th May The Curve, Slough
William Street, Slough, SL1 1XY

18th June Guildhall Arts Centre, Grantham
St. Peter’s Hill, Grantham, NG31 6PZ

19th June Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton Upon Trent
Union Street, Burton Upon Trent, DE14 1EB

27th June Lincoln Drill Hall, Lincoln
Freeschool Lane, Lincoln, LN2 1EY

28th June Old Library, Mansfield
Leeming Street, Mansfield, NG18 1NG

29th June South Holland Centre, Spalding
23 Market Place, Spalding, Lincolnshire, PE11 1SS

30th June Attenborough Arts Centre, Leicester
University of Leicester, Lancaster Road, Leicester, LE1 7HA