Touchstone Theatre presents Behind the Moon, March 27 to April 6
Work by acclaimed playwright and novelist Anosh Irani focuses on three South Asian men navigating their migration journeys in Canada
SPONSORED POST BY Touchstone Theatre
(From left) Zahf Paroo, Praneet Akilla, and Dhirendra, Behind the Moon. Photo by Chelsey Stuyt
Touchstone Theatre has just announced that its upcoming production of Behind the Moon by award-winning playwright and novelist Anosh Irani will run at The Cultch’s Vancity Culture Lab from March 27 to April 6.
Recently named the 2023 recipient of the Writers’ Trust Engel Findley Award for his exceptional contributions to Canadian literature, Irani captivates audiences with this powerfully moving exploration of human connection, belonging, and the immigrant experience. Directed by Touchstone Theatre’s artistic director Lois Anderson, Behind the Moon delves into the intertwined lives of three South Asian men navigating their migration journeys in Canada.
Set in the Toronto eatery Mughlai Moon, the play centres on its hardworking, lone employee Ayub (Praneet Akilla). Under the watchful eye of the restaurant’s owner, Qadir Bhai (Dhirendra), Ayub devotes himself to cooking and cleaning while holding onto the hope of reuniting with his family still living in Mumbai. One fateful night, cab driver Jalal (Zahf Paroo) walks into the restaurant, sparking a complicated friendship that disrupts Ayub’s delicate world and the buried truths at its core.
What unfolds is a profound journey through faith, loss, brotherhood, and the struggles of building a new life in Canada. Celebrated for its humour, humanity, and emotional depth, the production has earned critical acclaim for vividly portraying the emotional and social complexities of migration.
Behind the Moon’s world premiere took place at Toronto’s Tarragon Theatre in February 2023, directed by Richard Rose. The play expands on a character that first appeared in Irani’s earlier works. It is also the latest collaboration between Irani and director Anderson, whose past projects together include My Granny the Goldfish, Buffoon, and Transcendence.
A free public event in association with this production, Behind the Moon: An Evening with Playwright and Novelist Anosh Irani, will take place at the Vancouver Public Library’s Central Library branch on March 18. Irani and Anderson will discuss Behind the Moon, the art of playwriting, and the Canadian theatre scene.
Tickets to see Behind the Moon are now on sale through The Cultch. Subscription passes that include this production are also available for purchase online through Touchstone Theatre.
Post sponsored by Touchstone Theatre.
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