The Buddha of Suburbia

Tour synopsis, cast & creatives

South London in the late seventies. High unemployment, high inflation, food shortages and strikes. But despite the winter of discontent, 17-year-old Karim's life is about to explode into glorious technicolour as he navigates a path to enlightenment. Or at the very least, Beckenham. Emma Rice adapts the award-winning 1990 novel, which was later turned into an acclaimed TV series, with Hanif Kureishi. On stage it becomes an irresistible, heart-breaking and joyful exploration of family, friends, sex, theatre and, ultimately, belonging.

Cast/Performers

Dee Ahluwalia (Karim), Ankur Bahl (Haroon), Tommy Belshaw (Charlie / Shadwell), Rina Fatania (Tracey / Jeeta / Marlene / Auntie Jean), Natasha Jayetileke (Jamila), Naveed Khan (Anwar / Joanna), Deven Modha (Ensemble), Katy Owen (Margaret / Eleanor), Simon Rivers (Changez), Lucy Thackeray (Eva), Ewan Wardrop (Matthew Pyke)

Creatives/Company

Book by: Hanif Kureishi
Adapted by(s): Emma Rice, Hanif Kureishi
Presented by(s): Royal Shakespeare Company, Wise Children
Director(s): Emma Rice, Kev McCurdy (fight), Matthew Dewsbury (CDG - casting), Laura Keefe (associate director)
Design: Rachana Jadhav
Costume(s): Vicki Mortimer, Helen Johnson (associate costume designer)
Sound: Simon Baker (also video designer / music arrangements)
Lighting: Jai Morjaria
Music: Niraj Chag
Choreographer(s): Etta Murfitt (also intimacy coordinator), Ankur Bahl (associate choreographer)