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AIK Productions is an award winning theatre making company founded by Asif Khan in 2015.

AIK aim to produce new, high quality theatre, specialising in stories and voices from minority backgrounds.

 

It's first production in 2015 was LOVE, BOMBS & APPLES by award-winning playwright Hassan Abdulrazzak. A one-man show, which takes audiences on a journey through four different stories, laden with cultural comment, explored through humour. 

 

It had a sold out run at the Arcola Theatre as part of the Shubbak Arab Arts Festival in 2015.

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The show returned in 2016 for 4 weeks at the Arcola Theatre alongside a UK tour to: Northern Stage (Newcastle), Mercury Theatre (Colchester), Printers Playhouse (Eastbourne), Attenborough Arts Centre (Leicester), Cast (Doncaster), York Theatre Royal (York), Theatre in the Mill (Bradford), Oldham Coliseum (Oldham), Kinara Festival (Ace Centre, Nelson), Arabica Arts Festival (Liverpool).

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It again returned in 2017 to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe at Summerhall and made its US Debut in 2018. 

 

It was nominated for BEST STAGE PRODUCTION at the ASIAN MEDIA AWARDS 2016 and as a finalist for BEST STAGE PRODUCTION at EASTERN EYE ARTS, CULTURE & THEATRE AWARDS 2017. It won OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION at the Theatre Bay Area Awards 2018 for it's US Debut.​

 

In 2017, AIK Productions co-produced COMBUSTION (details below) with Tara Arts.

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in 2021, AIK Productions premiered JABALA AND THE JINN at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry (details below). Co-produced with Turtle Key Arts.

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In 2022, JABALA AND THE JINN UK Tour, including Kala Sangam (Bradford) and Lyric Hammersmith (London).

 

In 2025, SISTERS 360, coming to Polka Theatre, Leeds Playhouse and Bradford City Of Culture 2025.​​​​

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We have been kindly supported by The Carne Trust & The Iraqi Cultural Centre

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AIK PRODUCTIONS

LOVE, BOMBS & APPLES

By Hassan Abdulrazzak
 
Palestine. Pakistan. Bradford. New York.
A comic tale. Four men experience a moment of revelation.

 

Company: AIK Productions & Turtle Key Arts

Director: Rosamunde Hutt

Designer: Mila Sanders

Sound: James Hesford

Lighting: Charlie Lucas

Voice Coach: Richard Ryder

Cast: Asif Khan

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A Palestinian actor learns there’s more to English girls than pure sex appeal.

A Pakistani-born terror suspect figures out what’s wrong with his first novel.

A British youth suspects all is not what it seems with his object of desire.

A New Yorker asks his girlfriend for a sexual favour at the worst possible time.

Love, Bombs & Apples is the comic tale of four men, each from different parts of the globe, all experiencing a moment of revelation.

 

WINNER of OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION at Theatre Bay Area Awards 2018 (US Debut).

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Nominated as a finalist for BEST STAGE PRODUCTION at the ASIAN MEDIA AWARDS 2016.

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Nominated as a finalist for BEST STAGE PRODUCTION at EASTERN EYE ARTS, CULTURE & THEATRE AWARDS 2017.

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Long-listed for an Amnesty Freedom Of Expression Award 2017.

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★★★★     A Younger Theatre

★★★★     The Stage​

★★★★     LondonTheatre1​

★★★★     Islington Gazette​

★★★★     Carole Woddis

★★★★     The Scotsman

★★★★     Commonspace

★★★★     Fest Mag

★★★★     Ed Festival Mag

★★★★     Fringe Guru

★★★★     Reviews Hub

★★★★     Manchester Theatre Awards

★★★★     For All Events San Francisco

"Bubbling humour….Quartet of monologues with a profound ability to find humour in the most over-trodden tragedies"
—The Stage

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"Searingly satirical…brilliantly observed"
—LondonTheatre1

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"Powerful, political theatre ... Laugh-out-loud moments ... Chris Morris' hilarious film, Four Lions, sprung to mind"
—Islington Gazette

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"Invigorating…inspiring…exhilarating…Rosamunde Hutt’s economic, elegant single- room production transports us effortlessly to each milieu, as does Khan’s extraordinary gift for transformation"
—Carole Woddis

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"A script that deals in the nitty-gritties of the ordinary with searingly satirical candour and idiosyncratic quirks and foibles of each brilliantly observed character"
—London Theatre1

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"Abdulrazzak's captivating tales hook an audience from start to finish"
—A Younger Theatre

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"Abdulrazzak has a talent for turning something comic into a political minefield. . . . The audience can consider government policies, and world politics, because they’ve been so well-absorbed by the absurdly personal anecdotes. And thanks to Khan’s unflagging performance, the lessons at hand never seem didactic or dull. He makes them feel real, a part of certain oppressed people’s everyday lives." —SF Weekly, San Francisco

"Four breathtaking monologues in a dramatic tour-de-force . . . Watching Asif Khan's riveting portrayals of four deeply conflicted men is like sitting beside a world-class musician who has mastered the pacing and technique required by a demanding and complex piece of music. Abdulrazzak's characters come to life with a breathtaking urgency in Khan's hands." —My Cultural Landscape, San Francisco

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"Beautifully encapsulates a dilemma that’s complex, hilarious, and utterly believable . . . Directed by Rosamunde Hutt with careful attention to varied moods and nuances, Abdulrazzak’s monologues form a rich and seamless whole. " —Jean Schiffman, SF Examiner

"A provocative and hilarious solo show . . . Iraqi-British playwright Hassan Abdulrazzak brilliantly wrings comedy from the idiosyncratic obsessions of four very different young men as their lives intersect with the tragic state of the world around them." —Sam Hurwitt, Mercury News, San Francisco

"A tour- de-force staging of four satiric agitprop monologues"
—Kedar Adour, TheatreWorld, San Francisco

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''The impressive actor essaying these roles is Asif Khan, presenting a tour de force that guarantees him as a name to watch out for. Flitting from one character to another is no easy feat, especially when their personalities are as different as their accents here''

-Shai Hussain 

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''Asif Khan’s powerhouse performance''

-Hackney Gazette

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"Performed by Khan with a fervour that does not falter to his last line"

-Yasmina Allouche,  MEMO

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"Khan engrosses us in the diverse stories of the four characters, switching between accents and personalities competently, whilst performing each story flawlessly…"

Holly O’Mahony, A Younger Theatre

 

"He was sometimes unrecognisable when he transitioned between the characters…He managed to combine the energy of stand-up with the naturalism of theatre and even the more unlikable characters he portrayed were compelling. Not only did Khan master all four roles but he also conveyed a real sense of the minor characters in each tale"

-Simon Fearn, Cuckoo Review

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''As performed by Asif Khan in a one-man show lucidly directed by Rosamunde Hutt, the playlets have a charm that comes from the actor’s ability to be completely convincing. Khan does everything you’d expect, jumping from one personality and one accent to the others, and he does it all beautifully'' 

-Aleks Sierz

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"Perhaps what is most extraordinary in this exploration of the ordinary is the performance of the only actor Asif Khan, who jumps between scenes and characters with such ease and deftness…In each story every character was so unambiguously defined and appeared so complete it was hard to imagine that Khan and director Rosamunde Hutt had spent anything less than a lifetime defining each mannerism, trait, and quirk…the subtleties of Abdulrazzak’s play in the hands of a lesser actor would have been completely lost, as a script that deals in the nitty-gritties of the ordinary is necessarily reliant on a truly exceptional performance to lift quotidian mundanity into something so compellingly watchable"

–Neil Cheesman, London Theatre1

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"Khan’s acting talent is indisputable – he almost literally became three very different characters, who all feature in a longer show acclaimed on its earlier run at Arcola Theatre in London. He was so convincing in each case that when I spotted him in the courtyard after the show, I could not guess who this man actually is, or what his accent might really be"

-Catherine Meek, Fringe Guru

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COMBUSTION by Asif Khan 

AIK Productions in association with Tara Arts

 

Bradford, in the month of Ramadan. Latching on to the latest grooming scandal, racists plan to march through the city, while Shaz, a local garage mechanic, desperately tries to keep his business running smoothly so he can marry well. In this combustible atmosphere, his sister Samina is determined to make her voice heard.

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Bradford-born Asif Khan’s debut play is a comic take on the combustion surrounding young British Muslim lives in the North today.

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TOURED May - July 2017

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Wed 17 to Sat 27 May, 7.30pm
TARA THEATRE
356 Garratt Lane, Earlsfield, London SW18 4ES
Box Office: 020 8333 4457

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Tues 30 May to Sat 24 June
ARCOLA THEATRE
24 Ashwin Street, London, E8 3DL
Box Office: 020 7503 1645

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Tues 27 June, 7.30pm
NORWICH ARTS CENTRE
51 St Benedict's Street, Norwich, NR2 4PG
Box Office: 01603 660 352

 

Thurs 29 & Fri 30 June, Thurs 7pm & Fri 2pm
RADA FESTIVAL, Gielgud Theatre
18-22 Chenies Street, London, WC1E 7PA
Box Office: 020 7636 7076

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Sun 2 July, 7.30pm
THEATRE ROYAL MARGATE
Addington Street, Margate, CT9 1PW 
Box Office: 01843 292 795

 

Tues 4 July, 7.30pm
QUEEN'S HALL ARTS
Beaumont Street, Hexham, Northumberland, NE46 3LS
Box Office: 01434 652477

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Thurs 6 July, 7.30pm
THE CUSTOMS HOUSE
Mill Dam South Shields, NE33 1ES
Box Office: 0191 454 1234

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Fri 7 July, 7.30pm
BRADFORD LITERATURE FESTIVAL
The Alhambra Studio
Box Office: 01274 233 185

 

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Writer & Co-Producer: Asif Khan

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Co-Producer: Jonathan Kennedy (Tara Arts)

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Director: Nona Shepphard

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Designer: Mila Sanders

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Composer: James Hesford

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Lighting: Andy Grange

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Cast: Beruce Khan, Rez Kempton, Mitesh Soni, Shireen Farkhoy, Nigel Hastings

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SUPPORTED BY ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND AND THE CARNE TRUST

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COMBUST
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Photography by Talula Sheppard

“★★★★ A brave, important and necessary play... If I were running the National, I’d pick up this play pronto to ensure it’s amplified further.”

—The Telegraph

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“★★★★ [Asif Khan's] debut outing as a playwright is impressive, bringing clarity and humour to dark and difficult material.”

—The Stage

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“★★★★ A triumph: a savagely funny, thought-provoking piece, which lingers long in the memory.”

—The Peg

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“★★★★ Asif Khan will be familiar to London audiences primarily as an actor, but in Combustion, he proves to be as adept a playwright as a performer.”

—LondonTheatre1

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“★★★★★ Pure magic.”

—Hiive

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“Troubling, insightful and heart-warming ... The staging is exceptional ... A stunning performance from Shireen Farkhoy”

—Everything Theatre

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'I’m sick of having to convince non-Muslims I’m not a f**king terrorist', is just one of several pertinent lines in Asif Khan’s lively new work about young Muslims in contemporary Bradford'' - Evening Standard

 

A delightfully entertaining, moving and uplifting story - A Younger Theatre

 

Khan’s writing is funny and often sharp in a play which faces the issues head-on. - Traffic Light Theatre

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COMBUSTION - WINNER of BEST STAGE PRODUCTION at the Asian Media Awards 2017.

COMBUSTION - WINNER of BEST PRODUCTION at EASTERN EYE ARTS, CULTURE & THEATRE AWARDS 2018

COMBUSTION - Nominated for Two OFFWESTEND Awards inc BEST NEW PLAY & MALE PERFORMANCE IN A SUPPORTING ROLE.

COMBUSTION - Nominated for a STAGE DEBUT AWARD  2017 for Best Writer.

COMBUSTION - Nominated as a Finalist for Best Poster Design at Theatre & Technology Awards 2017.

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JABALA AND THE JINN by Asif Khan

A new play for children and families

Produced by Turtle Key Arts and AIK productions

Directed by Rosamunde Hutt

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Premiered at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry as an ONLINE SCREENING.

WEDS 31 MAR TO SAT 24 APRIL 2021.

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Toured to venues in 2022, including: Kala Sangam (Bradford) & Lyric Hammersmith (London). 

 

WINNER for BEST SCRIPTWRITER at the EASTERN EYE ARTS, CULTURE AND THEATRE AWARDS 2022.

FINALIST for BEST STAGE PRODUCTION at the ASIAN MEDIA AWARDS 2021.

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We’re in Bradford.

 

It’s been a few months since Jabala’s beloved Mum died. Dad is a brilliant father, but it’s an effort to get to school on time every day. One morning, when she says goodbye to her house as usual, Jabala hears a voice replying to her in Arabic. But no one’s there. Could it be Mum? Has she imagined it?

 

With the help of a ‘Refugee Boy’ at school, a Shakespeare enthusiast called Munir, she summons... a Jinn. But this is no ordinary ‘Jinn’, as told in grandma’s stories and Jabala is in for a surprise.

 

As the day of Eid approaches, events take a drastic turn and Jabala is forced to make some difficult decisions.

 

Will things come together in time for the celebration?

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Using physical theatre, original music and vivid design, this new play by award winning writer Asif Khan is a funny and endearing story for the whole family.

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The development of the play has been supported by Stratford Circus, Kala Sangam & The AMAL Foundation. 

“★★★★ A hugely likeable and engaging play that will delight both children and adults. A perfect family watch.”

Beyond The Curtain

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“★★★★★ Asif Khan has written a marvellous play celebrating Arabic culture, family and children's theatre on stage.”

West End Best Friend

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“Asif Khan's well-written play draws the audience in with this charming adventurous tale, both children and adults alike will be captivated by this heart-warming story.”

West End Best Friend 

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“a piece of drama which explores complex themes of growing up, honesty, and friendship. A lovely, multi-layered performance.” 

Lou Reviews

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“This production had me hooked from the get-go. I loved it.”     Beyond The Curtain

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“Bursting with energy…fresh and fast-moving”  

 British Theatre Guide

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“there is lots of humour in Jabala and the Jinn but wrapped up in the fun are lots of messages around acceptance, love, friendship and difference.”

Weekend Notes

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“Fun, charming and thoughtful” 

BrumHour

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Writer & Co-Producer: Asif Khan

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Co-Producer: Charlotte Cunningham (Turtle Key Arts)

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Director: Rosamunde Hutt

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Designer: Mila Sanders

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Composer: James Hesford

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Lighting: Aideen Malone

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Illustration: Nadine Kadaan

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Cast (Belgrade Theatre Premiere, 2021): 


NATALIE DAVIES- Jabala

SAFIYYA INGAR- Jinn
JAY VARSANI- Munir & Dad

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Cast (Tour 2022): 

NATALIE DAVIES- Jabala

SARA MAZZANTI - Jinn

RIAD RICHIE - Munir & Dad

ANSHULA BAIN - Understudy (Jabala)

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Photos by Stacey Potter (2022 UK TOUR)
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Photos by Mila Sanders (2021)
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SISTERS 360 by Asif Khan
Directed by Ameera Conrad.
Produced with: Polka Theatre, Turtle Key Arts, Leeds Playhouse & Bradford City Of Culture 2025.

 

★★★★★
"A fun, heartfelt play about dreaming big and never giving up!" 
Cinema Stars Entertainment

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★★★★
"Inspirational tale of skateboarding stepsisters fizzes with freewheeling fantasy" 
The Stage

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"An upbeat, energetic production... a message about empowerment and changing the narrative" 
Everything Theatre

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"It’s got heart and street cred and will have you smiling from ear to ear" 
Daily Mumtra

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Fatima and Salima are the closest, coolest, hijabi step-sisters in all of Bradford and they will win the Tiny is Mighty skateboarding competition, there is no doubt about it.  

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They’ve practised every trick in the book, and look (almost) as good as Sky Brown on the telly, just check out their YouTube Channel if you’re not convinced. Nothing will stop them. Except their parents have started whispering in the kitchen about living apart… about moving to different cities… only seeing each other in school holidays. How will they perfect their routine and win gold if their whole lives are about to turn 360 too? Only the greatest super plan ever concocted will help them achieve their dreams.  

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Inspired by real-life skateboarding sisters Layna, Maysa and Amaya, and their hero Olympic Medallist Sky Brown. 

 

A brand-new production written by Asif Khan.

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Playing at Polka Theatre, Leeds Playhouse and in Bradford as part of City Of Culture 2025.​

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Images by Tasha Best

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Cast:
Fatima Sara Abanur
Salima Farah Ashraf
 

Creative Team:
Writer Asif Khan
Director Ameera Conrad
Set and Costume Designer Erin C Guan
Sound Designer & Composer Holly Khan
Lighting Designer Lucía Sánchez Roldán
Movement Director Rachel-Leah Hosker
Puppet Maker & Designer Mikayla Teodoro
Associate Puppet Designer & Maker Edd Berridge
Prop Maker Michael Douglas
Puppet Director Roman Stefanski
Stage Manager on Book Katie Bingham
Set Construction Basement 94
Scenic Painter Fani Parali

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