Out of Sorts
Directed by Tanuja Amarasuriya
Zara has spent her adult life being two different people. The good Muslim daughter, all set to marry the man her family approve of and a free-spirited British millennial, who parties as hard as she works. Over one dramatic weekend, the lies she’s been telling to keep these two worlds apart begin to unravel and she is forced to confront her real identity.
Danusia Samal's play Out of Sorts won the 2018 Theatre503 International Playwriting Award. This was its first production.
"Tanuja Amarasuriyaʼs production brings out the playʼs warmth and humour. All of the characters are permitted depth and nuance, all of the relationships are shaded, no one is beyond redemption, and a sense of tenderness permeates the whole piece."
The Stage
Cast & Credits
ZARA Nalân Burgess
LAYLA Myriam Acharki
HUSSEIN Nayef Rashed
FATIMA Oznur Cifci
ALICE Emma Denly
ANTHONY Claudius Peters
Written by Danusia Samal Directed by Tanuja Amarasuriya Set & Costume Design by Rebecca Wood Lighting Design by Ali Hunter Sound Design by Rachael Murray Casting Director Lilly Mackie Stage Manager Keira Dulake Producer Jake Orr Assistant Producer Frankie Greig Production photographs by Helen Murray and Tristram Kenton.
Produced by Theatre503
"Tanuja Amarasuriyaʼs direction is smart, creative, and fluid. The way in which both Zaraʼs home life and personal life seemed to carry on at the same time is inspired."
Everything Theatre
"In this account of the clash between Muslim heritage and the hipster lifestyle, the playwright is well served by Tanuja Amarasuriyaʼs excellent production. What you remember is not only the power of Samalʼs writing, but its overall generosity — as well as its moments of tenderness when the truth really does set the characters free."
The Theatre Times
"This layered, nuanced piece of writing is worthy of the 2018 Theatre503 International Playwriting Award. Itʼs brought to life through Amarasuriyaʼs vision, who maintains a breakneck pace typical of the familiar and familial environment – conversations interrupted, things unsaid because of shared understandings, rivalries and quarrels all too recognisable in the parent- daughter, sibling or squabbling best friend dynamic... Out Of Sorts is an ensemble effort of though-provoking, emotionally wrenching theatre."
Miro Magazine
"The performances are all powerful, sympathetic and nuanced, doing justice to the acutely observed script and its emotional heft."
The Upcoming