02 November 2019
Newsdesk
When Tom (Scott Karim) and Samad (Irfan Shamji) meet for the first time, they are stunned by the similarities they share. Despite Tom’s adoption and all the years spent apart, the two brothers are joined by an undeniable biological bond.
But as they become closer and their lives entangle, they realise that finding each other comes at a price.
A taut family drama about obsession, betrayal and the human need to belong. The Arrival is a world premiere written and directed by Olivier Award-winning theatre director Bijan Sheibani (Barber Shop Chronicles, The Brothers Size) which previews at the Bush Theatre from 21 November with press night 26 November.
Bijan Sheibani’s most recent theatre credits include the UK tour of his National Theatre production of A Taste of Honey by Shelagh Delaney, which transfers to Trafalgar Studios from December, The Brothers Size (Young Vic), Dance Nation (Almeida), Barber Shop Chronicles (National Theatre) and Circle Mirror Transformation (Home Manchester). In 2018 Barber Shop Chronicles toured to full houses in Australia and New Zealand after two sell-out runs at the National Theatre in 2017. It toured the USA for four months in 2018 and is currently touring the UK following a six-week residency at the Roundhouse, London this summer.
Recent opera credits include Nothing for Glyndebourne (Danish National Opera) which was nominated for a 2017 Southbank Sky Arts Award for Best New Opera, and Tell Me The Truth About Love (Streetwise Opera)
Bijan has directed two short films, Groove is in the Heart, and Samira’s Party, both of which were selected for the BFI London Film Festival and other international festivals. This year he directed Morning Song for Film Four which he has also written. It is produced by Camilla Bray and Nathanael Baring.
He was an associate director of the National Theatre from 2010-2015 under Nicholas Hytner and Nick Starr, and artistic director of ATC from 2007-2010. He won the James Menzies-Kitchen Award for Young Directors in 2003 and held the John S Cohen Bursary at the National Theatre Studio from 2003-2004. He was nominated for an Olivier Award in 2010 for Best Director for his production of Our Class, and his production of Gone Too Far! by Bola Agbaje won an Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre in 2008. The Brothers Size won Best International Production at the Barcelona Critics Circle Awards 2008 and was nominated for an Olivier Award in the same year.
Scott Karim trained at Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. His theatre appearances include Oklahoma! and The Country Wife (Chichester Festival Theatre), The Village (Theatre Royal Stratford East), Young Marx (Bridge Theatre), Food (Finborough Theatre) Imogen, The Merchant of Venice (Globe Theatre), King Lear (Royal & Derngate, and ATG), Brave New World (Royal & Derngate, and Touring
Consortium), The Invisible (Bush Theatre), Dara, Great Britain, Othello (National Theatre), Ladybird (Secret/Heart), Cymbeline, The Brothers Karamazov, The House of Special Purpose, Romeo and Juliet, All for Love/Marriage a la Mode, The Tempest, Ajax, Undiscovered Country, The House of Ramon Iglesias (RADA), Masked (RADA Director’s Showcase). Scott’s television appearances include The Dumping Ground (BBC), Dracula (Hartswood Films), Crazy Diamond 'Electric Dreams: The World of Philip K. Dick' (Leftbank for Channel 4 & Sony Television) Britannia (Amazon/Sky), Holby City (BBC). His films include White Girl
Irfan Shamji was born in Zambia. He attended RADA and graduated in 2017. In his final year of RADA, Irfan played Laertes in Kenneth Branagh’s production of Hamlet opposite Tom Hiddleston. Other theatre credits include Hedda Tesman (Chichester Festival Theatre), Mayfly (Orange Tree Theatre), One for Sorrow (Royal Court) and Dance Nation (Almeida). He was the recipient of the Clarence Derwent Award for his performances in Mayfly, One for Sorrow and Dance Nation.
Irfan’s film credits include Red Joan, and Murder on the Orient Express. On television he has appeared in Urban Myths and Informer for the BBC. Irfan recently voiced characters for Netflix’s Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, produced with the Jim Henson Company.
Performances
21 November – 18 January at 7.30pm, 26 November at 7pm (no performances 22 Dec – 1 Jan)
Sat matinee 30 November, 7, 14, 21 December, 4, 11, 18 January at 2.30pm
Wed matinee 4, 11, 18 December and 8, 15 January at 2.30pm
Tickets priced from £10 (concessions available) can be booked at bushtheatre.co.uk or at the Box Office on 020 8743 5050
