An uplifting story of the triumph of love, inspiration and hope against
all odds, laced with the song and dance of austere, 1940s Britain.
Ricky Braithwaite, an ex-RAF fighter pilot and Cambridge graduate,
arrives in London in 1948. Despite his First Class degree in electronic
engineering he is turned down for job after job in his chosen profession
and discovers the reality of life as a black man in post-war England.
Taking the only job he can get, Ricky begins his first teaching post, in
a tough but progressive East End school. Supported by an enlightened
headmaster, the determined teacher turns teenage rebelliousness into
self-respect, contempt into consideration and hate into love, and on the
way, Ricky himself learns that he has more in common with his students
than he had realized.
Funny and tough... an unlikely tale, beautifully told. - Express
Stark and engaging... a poetic period piece. - Whatsonstage.com
A clever re-working... beautifully judged with warmth and a lot of
humour. - British Theatre Guide
Ayub Khan-Din is a British Pakistani actor and playwright. His play
East is East won the John Whiting and Writers' Guild Awards and the
film version won Best Film at the British Comedy Awards. Other work
includes Last Dance at Dum Dum and Notes on Falling Leaves, both
staged by the Royal Court.
