Brown Boys Swim to transfer to Oxford and London after Edinburgh Fringe success

Karim Khan’s Brown Boys Swim is to transfer to Oxford and London this autumn.

Winner of the prestigious Popcorn Award and The Scotsman’s Fringe First Award at this summer’s Edinburgh Fringe, the production will first tour to Oxford’s The North Wall from 22 – 24 September.

The show will then move to London’s Soho Theatre from 26 September – 15 October.

Boisterous and self-opinionated best friends Mohsen (Anish Roy) and Kash (Varun Raj) are preparing for their post-school future, but first they need to nab an invitation to the biggest social event of term – Jess Denver’s pool party.

Fuelled by halal Haribo, university-minded Mohsen and girl-crazy Kash won’t let the fact they can’t swim stand in their way, and embark on a race to teach themselves how to be at one with the water. But learning how to swim is more than a quick jump in the deep end – Mohsen and Kash must tackle expectations, prejudice and public changing rooms.

Considering how systemic racism and societal pressures can push people along a relentless current, Brown Boys Swim examines how we can be prevented from being and understanding our most authentic selves. This funny and moving play takes a deep dive into communities who are consciously and unconsciously forbidden from spaces like pools – where microaggressions are a sign of something more insidious.

Writer Karim Khan said: “I’m incredibly excited for the play to transfer to Oxford and London, and to see the show take further life in front of more wonderful audiences. Our Edinburgh run was wonderful and beyond my wildest dreams, so I can’t wait to embark on the next leg of the journey. I also can’t wait to see some desi crowds filling up Soho Upstairs.”

The award-winning, sell out success is directed by John Hoggarth and produced by Fringe First award-winning The North Wall.

For more information and tickets, visit thenorthwall.com or sohotheatre.com