The P Word, a play by Waleed Akhtar that won the 2023 Olivier Award, explores the parallel lives of two gay Pakistani men against the backdrop of the UK government’s increasingly hostile stance toward migrants.
The production returns to The Bush Theatre from 28 May to 27 June and features the original cast, including Akhtar and Esh Alladi. This production is co-presented by Seventh Productions and Chuchu Nwagu Productions, alongside Tan France, an Emmy-winning television personality and producer known for his role on Netflix’s acclaimed series Queer Eye.
Praised as ‘tremendous’ (The Times) and ‘immensely moving’ (Financial Times), this enduringly relevant tale of a romance blossoming against all odds broke box office records at the Bush Theatre in 2022 and now returns with its original cast and creative team.
‘I’m not in your Britain. I’m in another Britain.’
The P Word
Zafar escapes from homophobic persecution in Pakistan to seek asylum in the UK. In London, Bilal, who refers to himself as “Billy,” feels worn down by years of using Grindr and the challenges of being a brown gay man. Their lives are about to change forever.
Waleed Akhtar’s sharp-witted and impactful play explores the lives of two gay Pakistani men as they navigate casual hook-ups and the UK’s hostile environment.
Directed by Anthony Simpson-Pike, Artistic Director of Theatre503, with the original cast members Esh Alladi (Bridgerton) and Waleed Akhtar (The Great) returning.
The P Word runs from 28 May – 27 June, 2026, at The Bush Theatre, 7 Uxbridge Road, Shepherd’s Bush, London W12 8LJ, United Kingdom.
The P Word: More About The Cast
Waleed Akhtar plays the role of Billy
Waleed is an award-winning writer and actor known for his contributions to theatre. His play, The P Word, received the Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre, and was also nominated for Best Play at the WGGB Awards. Additionally, he was recognised as Most Promising Playwright at The Offies and received a nomination for the same category at The Evening Standard Awards. Waleed has been awarded the Peggy Ramsay/Film4 Bursary and the MGC Futures Award.
Theatre work includes: The Real Ones and The P Word (both at the Bush Theatre), as well as Kabul Goes Pop: Music Television Afghanistan (at Brixton House, Mercury, and High Tide). His translation work features Alexis Michalik’s The Art of Illusion (at the Hampstead Theatre). He currently has commissions from the Almeida, The Unicorn, and the Manhattan Theatre Club, and he is on attachment at the Royal Court.
His work for screen includes The Road Trip (Paramount+/42MP), contributions to Season 4 of Famalam, and the short film Lost Paradise (B3 Media/UK Film Council). He was selected for the BBC Studios Spotlight scheme and is currently developing several original ideas. His audio play, Mrs Bibi, was released by Audible in March 2025 and was a finalist for the Tinniswood Award.
Waleed has an impressive background as an actor, with television credits that include The Great (Channel 4), Franchise (HBO), and Three Girls (BBC). His film appearances include Cruella, The Roads Not Taken, and Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. On stage, Waleed has performed in productions such as AI at the Young Vic, Fracked at Chichester Festival Theatre, and A Thousand Splendid Suns at Birmingham REP and on tour. Additionally, he is an experienced comedy improviser and a seasoned voice actor. He has voiced characters in the Planet Omar book series and most recently portrayed Ravi in Downstream for BBC Radio 4.
Esh Alladi plays Zafar
Esh trained at LAMDA and the University of Cambridge. In 2019, he won the UK Theatre Award for Best Supporting Performance for Hobson’s Choice at the Royal Exchange.
Esh’s theatre credits include: This Much I Know (Hampstead); Great Expectations, Hobson’s Choice, Wit (all Royal Exchange) The P Word (Bush), An Adventure (Octagon), Out West: The Overseas Student (Lyric Hammersmith) Theatrical Digs (Yvonne Arnaud), The Argument (Theatre Royal Bath), Rutherford and Son (Crucible), Absolute Hell (National), Twelfth Night (RSC), Lions and Tigers (Globe), Joybubbles, Dr. Feelgood (both The Other Palace), Nell Gwynn (Globe / ETT National Tour), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (New Wolsey), The House of In Between (Stratford East), My World Exploded a little bit (Tristan Bates), The Beaux’ Stratagem, Dara, Behind the Beautiful Forevers, War Horse BBC Prom, From Morning to Midnight, Romeo & Juliet (National); Boxer Beetle (Rich Mix); The Wind in the Willows (Birmingham Rep). Television credits include: Bridgerton, Red Rose (both Netflix), Father Brown, The Other One, Anthony, Casualty, EastEnders, Apple Tree House, Frankie (all BBC); Mr Bates Vs. The Post Office, A Confession, Houdini and Doyle (ITV); The Chelsea Detective (Acorn). Film credits include: The Moment, Fly Little Bird, Cardiff, Still Life, The Leak, Ordinary Love, Christmas at the Palace.
Anthony Simpson-Pike is a director, dramaturg, and writer
Anthony is currently Artistic Director of Theatre503, and was Deputy Artistic Director at the Yard Theatre, Resident Director at Theatre Peckham, and Associate Director at the Gate Theatre. Recent directorial work includes Donbas (Theatre503), Real Ones (The Bush), Samuel Takes a Break… (The Yard), Drama Desk award-winning Grenfell: In the Words of Survivors (National Theatre/ St Ann’s Warehouse in New York), Irish Times Theatre award-nominated An Octoroon (The Abbey), and, at the Bush, Olivier Award-winning The P Word and Lava (nominated for Best Director at the Black British Theatre Awards).
