Community
Friends Leyla and Zoya are polar opposites. Zoya is pampered, indulged and lacking purpose, and Leyla is hardworking, dependable and dedicates her time to helping others. Zoya has lived a privileged (spoilt!) life in a nice part of town, whereas Leyla lives on the other side of town with her housemate Khalil, a refugee from Syria.
When Zoya’s parents cut her off, she turns to old friend Leyla for help. Comedy ensues when Zoya is forced to start volunteering at the community centre and actually start thinking about others for once.
Things are going well until Zoya lets Leyla down at a talent contest at the community centre, just as her parents offer her the opportunity to go back home. Will Zoya bite their hand off or will she stay and fix things with Leyla?
Set in the heart of Birmingham, Community is a coming-of-age comedy drama exploring identity and belonging, and friendship.
A graduate of Rep Foundry and a proud Brummie, Farrah writes about relationships, identity and race through the lens of a woman of colour in today’s world.
Price
From £10
Supported by
The Sir Barry Jackson Trust
Written by
Farrah Chaudhry
Directed by
Alice Chambers
Age Guidance
11+
Please note, no under 5s will be admitted to the auditorium.
Access Performances
Audio Described: Thu 6 Feb 2pm (described by Julia Grundy & Carolyn Smith)
BSL Interpreted: Sat 8 Feb 2pm (interpreted by Harjit Jagdev)
Captioned: Wed 5 Feb 8pm (captioned by Cara Lawless)
Chilled Performance: Thu 6 Feb 2pm
Special Offers
Aged 16 to 25 Discounted tickets are available for this production for registered 16-25 members. T&Cs apply – Find Out More
3 for 2: Add 3 shows into your basket and at checkout enjoy 33% off each production for selected productions. T&Cs apply – Find Out More
Fees and Charges
Please note there is a transaction fee of £3.50 on all payment types.
Venue
Cast
Sabrina Nabi
Sabrina Nabi trained at the University of Wolverhampton and National Youth Theatre.
She has taken to the stage in many productions in venues including here at The Rep, The Crescent Theatre, The Drayton Arms Theatre and Omnibus Theatre.
Sabrina has worked with many regional arts organisations including Untied Artists, Black Country Touring and The Playhouse in various community led and children’s participation project. She was part of the Sky Comedy Rep in 2023 and Kali Theatre Labs earlier this year.
Kerena Jagpal
Kerena Jagpal trained at the Oxford School of Drama.
Theatre credits include: Drop the Dead Donkey (Hat Trick & Simon Friend productions), Brown Girl Noise (Haldi & Co), Mismatch & Twitch (Sky Comedy Rep), Circle Game (Southwark Playhouse) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 13, The Cosmonaut’s Last Message To The Woman He Once Loved In The Former Soviet Union, Tiger Country (training).
Workshop credits include: The Ghost Of Thomas Kempe (RSC).
Television credits include: Outnumbered – Christmas special (BBC), DI Ray (ITV) and 3 Body Problem (Netflix).
Film credits include: 100 Nights of Hero (Amazon Studios)
Sayyid Aki
Sayyid Aki, born in Damascus and raised in West London, is thrilled to be making his professional stage debut at the Birmingham Rep. With a background in writing and directing short films and fringe theatre, Sayyid has trained in acting under Robyn Paterson and Toby Clarke.
Creative Team
Writer
Farrah Chaudhry
Farrah Chaudhry
Director
Alice Chambers
Alice Chambers
Born and raised in the rural Northwest, Alice (she/ her) trained on the MFA Theatre Directing course at Birkbeck. She studied her undergraduate degree in English Literature.
She currently works as Resident Assistant Director at Birmingham Rep, with a focus on facilitation for
the youth theatre groups, dramaturgy, and local artist development. She specialises in new writing that is local and formally-inventive.
Recent credits include: The Mother Sh*t (Stumble Trip and Pleasance Theatre), A Gem of a Place (BoldText Playwrights), Uncommon Riches Festival (Young Rep), Little Amal (The Walk), Sky Comedy Rep Festival (Sky Studios), and Albatross (Playground Theatre).
Assistant Director
Hamza Ali
Hamza Ali
Production Designer
Jida Akil
Jida Akil
Lighting Designer
Jodie Underwood
Jodie Underwood
Sound Designer
Clive Meldrum
Clive Meldrum
Clive is also a visiting lecturer at University of Birmingham and BOA Stage & Screen.
Theatre credits include: Peter Pan the Musical (BOA Group), Love & Rebellion, Order & Chaos, Parklife, Uncommon Riches, GrimeBoy, The Play What I Wrote, Sky Comedy Rep, Blue/Orange, Stuff, Elephant, To Sir With Love, The Quiet House, The Rotters’ Club, Folk, Unknown Male, The Mother, Respect, Cling To Me Like Ivy, Last Easter, How To Tell The Monsters From The Misfits, Looking For Yoghurt, and Hopelessly Devoted (Birmingham Repertory Theatre). Faustus: That Damned Woman, Bad Roads, Serious Money, The Trojan Women, The Penolopiad, The Learning Lottery, How to Disappear Completely and Never Be Found, Byrthrite, Animal Farm (University of Birmingham).
As Associate Sound Designer: Counting & Cracking – UK tour (Belvoir), Family Tree – UK tour (Actors Touring Company)
Audio work: Chase Tales Trail (Cannock Chase Council & Birmingham Rep)
Production Stage Manager
Elliot Mitchell
Elliot Mitchell
Deputy Stage Manager
Jeanette Maggs
Jeanette Maggs
Jeanette has a background in Sound, AV and Production Management, and has been working in Theatre as Company Stage Manager and Deputy Stage Manager roles for the last ten years.
Recent credits include: Northanger Abbey ( Orange Tree Theatre, London / Octagon Theatre, Bolton / SJT Theatre, Scarborough / Theatre by the Lake, Keswick – Co Pro 2023), Little Red Riding Hood (The Rep, Birmingham 2023), Not The Last (Women And Theatre, Birmingham 2023), Biscuits For Breakfast (Hampstead Theatre, London 2023 ), and Run Rebel (Pilot Theatre, Tour, 2023)