COMMUNITY
CHILLED PERFORMANCE
THURSDAY 6TH FEBRUARY AT 2PM
You Here is a list of key information you will find inside this Access Pack. Unless stated otherwise, all photos are taken by Graeme Braidwood.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Community is a Rep Original Production written by Birmingham based writer and Rep Foundry alum
Farrah Chaudhry.
When Zoya’s parents cut her off, she turns to old college friend Leyla for help. Comedy ensues when Zoya is forced to start volunteering at the local community centre with Leyla and her housemate, Khalil.
Things are going well until Zoya lets Leyla down the community centre talent contest, 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?
The performance will run for approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes with no interval.
CONTENT ADVICE
Lighting & Sound
Please note that this production contains flashing lights for 1 minute at approximately 1 hour and 5 minutes into the show.
This show contains music. When you see a bell symbol, the scene might contain some loud noises. You are invited to bring your ear defenders, dark glasses or anything else that might help you enjoy the show. Speak to our Front of House Staff if you’d like to borrow some ear defenders or dark glasses.
Themes
= strong lighting = loud noises
The show contains occasional strong language, and references to war and grief. We have highlighted where this appears in the Visual Story.
OUR SPACE
Our new front door is located on Centenary Square, shown here:
Our Box Office (left) and Foyer (right) are shown here:
We have a Chill Out Space available for you to use at any time during your visit. Please ask a member of staff if you would like to use this space.
MEET THE CAST
Sabrina Nabi plays Zoya
Kerena Jagpal plays Leyla
Sayyid Aki plays Khalil
PLEASE NOTE:
This Chilled Performance will be a more informal performance environment.
This means that:
There is a relaxed attitude to noise and movement in the auditorium.
Auditorium doors will remain open to allow free flow in or out of the auditorium. You’re welcome to leave and return at any time.
Our front of house staff will show you where everything is and help if you have any questions
A chill-out space is available for you to use at any time during your visit, ask a member of staff and they can take you there.
VISUAL STORY
Zoya is waiting at the Number 50 bus stop with her suitcase. She is frustrated because nobody is answering her phone calls.
She spots her old college friend Leyla also waiting for the bus and strikes up a conversation.
VISUAL STORY
Zoya and Leyla arrive at Leyla’s home and have a cup of tea together. Leyla mentions that her parents died in a car accident a few years ago.
Zoya also meets Khalil, Leyla’s housemate, and learns more about their lives and the animals they help. We don’t see any of their pets - they are just spoken about.
Zoya starts unpacking all of her belongings and finds out she will be sleeping on their sofa.
VISUAL STORY
Leyla wakes Zoya up at 8am, which is much earlier than she is used to. Leyla, Khalil and Zoya then sit on the sofa together and drink coffee.
Leyla tells Zoya she needs to get ready, as Zoya will be working with her at the community centre.
VISUAL STORY
Zoya feels very uncomfortable at the community centre. She learns that Leyla works 6 days a week and even on her day off she volunteers, does charity work or helps out her family.
Khalil shares some of his poetry with Zoya. Khalil’s poetry is about his life in Syria, where he had to flee because of war.
Zoya helps Khalil with some online forms for people at the community centre. She offers to help Khalil with his poetry too.
They all decide to plan a talent contest at the community centre, so they can all have some fun.
VISUAL STORY
Zoya, Leyla and Khalil are taking part in the pakora circle at the community centre. Everyone who shares a story is rewarded with a homemade pakora. Zoya takes the opportunity to promote the talent show, which isn't allowed at the pakora circle.
Khalil shares his gratitude to Zoya for helping with his poetry. Leyla shares that she feels the community centre is her legacy because her Mum ran it for 20 years.
At the end of this scene there is the some audience interaction where you can ‘join in’ with an exercise class. Participation is voluntary, you ’ re welcome to take part if you would like to.
VISUAL STORY
Zoya hands out leaflets for the talent show and passes a few out to the audience. Leyla wants her to stop as they have already received over 800 applications! They discover this is because the small print offers the winner an ‘All expenses paid trip to Barcelona’.
Leyla gets angry at Zoya because they cannot afford to pay for a trip to Barcelona. Zoya then reveals that she didn’t choose to leave home, her parents kicked her out.
Zoya offers to read Khalil’s poetry in the talent show.
VISUAL STORY
Later, in Leyla and Khalil’s flat, Zoya arrives home after spending a large amount of money in Waitrose. Leyla and Khalil are upset because they have a weekly food shop budget of £60 and can’t afford the luxuries that Zoya is used to.
Zoya confides in Leyla that she doesn’t have any real friendships.
VISUAL STORY
Zoya, Leyla and Khalil are back at the pakora circle. Zoya has made pakoras, but they don’t taste very nice!
They talk about preparations for the talent competition.
Zoya offers to lock up the community centre that day so Leyla can go home and have some time to relax.
VISUAL STORY
Leyla walks into the community centre the following morning to find Zoya fast asleep on the floor. She is surrounded by takeaway containers and empty drinks bottles.
Zoya had a party in the community centre the night before the talent contest, and someone has stolen the sound system. Leyla is furious and swears at Zoya before storming off.
Khalil helps Zoya to clean up the mess and explain why the community centre is so special to Leyla.
VISUAL STORY
The talent show is in full swing and there may be moments where the audience applaud in this scene.
Zoya encourages Khalil to read his own poetry instead of her. Khalil stands at the microphone and recites his poem ‘Fajr’ which ends with a big round of applause. The poem might make people feel sad as it is about the war in Syria.
After the talent show, Zoya tells Leyla she will be moving back in with her parents and they say goodbye.
VISUAL STORY
Zoya arrives at the community centre to apologise to Leyla for her behaviour. Zoya asks if she can work at the community centre as the Marketing Officer. She no longer wants to move to London and would like to move in with Leyla and Khalil so she can continue working at the community centre.
The show ends with Zoya listing all of the new items she’d like them to buy for the house.
The actors come back onto the stage to take their bows.