BILLED as a ‘modern-day Romeo and Juliet’, the Belgrade Theatre’s latest play promises to explore young love in the 21st century.
Set in a Midlands Pakistani community, ‘Blood’ tells the doomed love story of South Asian teenagers Caneze and Sully whose struggle to be together against the odds leaves them at the mercy of cultural forces outside their control.
The writer behind the production, performance poet and playwright, Emteaz Hussain, said that she wanted the play to highlight the difficulties facing young people in Britain today from migrant backgrounds or particular faith and cultural groups.
Emteaz added: “It was important to me to write a play which captured the complexity of young people’s lives and the brave, sassy way they negotiate their world and all its complexities – whether that mean dealing with Islamophobia, racism, class conflict or the expectations of a particular culture or religion.
“I want audiences to empathize with these characters, each of which is faced with the reality of having to choose between their family and the person they have fallen head over heels for.”
While ‘Blood’ was performed in 2010 at the Gate Theatre as part of a new writing showcase, this co-production between the Belgrade Theatre and Tamasha theatre company will premier at the Coventry theatre before embarking on a whistlestop national tour.
‘Blood’ opens at the Belgrade Theatre today (Friday, March 27) and will play until Saturday, April 11 with tickets currently available from the Belgrade box office on 02476 553055 or online at www.belgrade.co.uk
