Stars of Birmingham Rep's Muslim comedy 'Tartuffe' make surprise visit to Stratford Road

Ahead of opening night this Friday (14 October), cast members from Birmingham Rep’s upcoming production of Tartuffe headed out to Sparkhill’s famous Stratford Road, where this new version of the classic comedy is set.

Tartuffe is directed Birmingham born Rep Associate Director, Iqbal Khan (the artistic director of Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony).

This new version of Molière’s classic transfers the action from France to modern-day Birmingham, telling the story of a charismatic chameleon with the gift of the gab.

Asif Khan as Tartuffe, Olga Fedori as Darina, Qasum Mahmood as Waqass

This version of Tartuffe relocates Molière’s satirical drama to the Muslim community of Birmingham’s Sparkhill.

Cast members from the production travelled to the famous Stratford Road to soak up the atmosphere of area.

Tartuffe is a wickedly funny Brummie comedy about family and faith and is adapted by BAFTA and Emmy Award-winning writers, Anil Gupta and Richard Pinto, who wrote Goodness Gracious Me, The Kumars at No.42, The American Office and Citizen Khan.

Olga Fedori as Darina strikes a pose outside a shop in Stratford Road

Sean Foley, Artistic Director of Birmingham Rep, said: “To finally be able to bring Tartuffe, Moliere’s superb comedy about a conman, to The Rep stage, in Anil Gupta and Richard Pinto’s sparklingly funny new version is a real joy.

“It was to be the first main stage show under my Artistic Directorship in March ’20, so I can’t wait for it to finally be shared with Birmingham audiences in celebration of both The REP’s 50th Anniversary year in Centenary Square and of Moliere’s 400th.”

The original date of the play was postponed in Birmingham when the government announced a nationwide lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic two years ago. The Birmingham Rep is excited to finally showcase Tartuffe at long last.

Olga Fedori as Darina, Asif Khan as Tartuffe, Qasum Mahmood as Waqass — Tartuffe opens at The Birmingham Rep on Friday 14 October

The play is produced by The Birmingham Rep in a production that was originally produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company.

After a smash-hit run at The RSC in 2019, actor Asif Khan is excited and looking forward to returning to the title role of the mischievous Tartuffe.

Khan recently appeared in Hamlet and The Cherry Orchard at Theatre Royal Windsor with Sir Ian McKellen (Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings movies).

The Birmingham Rep revealed the full cast of the play and confirmed that Asif Khan will take on the title role of Tartuffe with Salman Akhtar as Damee Pervaiz, Olga Fedori as Darina, Qasim Mahmood as Waqaas, Siddiqua Akhtar as Dadimaa Pervaiz, Anshula Bain as Mariam Pervaiz, Natalia Campbell as Amira, Simon Nagra as Imran, Riad Richie as Usman, Paige Round as DCI Sarah Wells and Pippa, and Roderick Smith as Khalil.

Tartuffe will run at The Birmingham Rep from Friday 14 October – Saturday 5 November