East is East

Ayub Khan-Din's play East is East runs at Derby Theatre, Salford 1971, ages 14+, 20-24 October 2026.

Set above a chip shop in Salford in 1971, East is East follows the Khan family as George tries to raise his seven children his Pakistani way while his English wife Ella tries to keep the peace. When George starts arranging marriages for his sons, the family's loyalties are pushed to breaking point in a play that mixes sharp comedy with real emotional weight. This production comes from Octagon Theatre Bolton, Citizens Theatre Glasgow and Wiltshire Creative, in association with Derby Theatre, and runs for 2 hours 25 minutes including an interval. Performances run Tuesday 20 to Saturday 24 October 2026, with shows at 7:30pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, plus 2:30pm matinees on Thursday and Saturday. Age guidance is 14+, and the play contains themes of racism and domestic abuse, strong language including homophobic language, and references to suicide. There's a BSL interpreted performance on Thursday 22 October at 7:30pm and a live audio described performance on Saturday 24 October at 2:30pm. Standard tickets range from £22.50 to £36 depending on the performance and seating band, with the earlier shows (Tuesday to Thursday) priced at £22.50, £29 and £33, rising to £25, £32 and £36 for Friday and Saturday. Discounts are available for under 26s, groups of 10 or more on weekday performances, and school groups on weekdays, alongside a Friends discount.

Happening at

Derby TheatreA city centre theatre with family shows for under 5s upwards, plus youth theatre groups and proper access support.Derby · toilets · wheelchair accessible · booking requiredSee full listing →