The Royal Shakespeare Company and Wise Children have cast Hanif Kureishi’s The Buddha of Suburbia, which is to run at London’s Barbican after being staged earlier in 2024 at the Swan Theatre, Stratford.
Eight of the cast will return to the production. They are Dee Ahluwalia (Karim), Ankur Bahl (Haroon), Tommy Belshaw (Charlie and Shadwell), Rina Fatania (Tracey, Jeeta, Marlene and Auntie Jean), Natasha Jayetileke (Jamila), Simon Rivers (Changez), Lucy Thackeray (Eva) and Ewan Wardrop (Matthew Pyke).
They will be joined by Naveed Khan (Anwar and Joanna), Deven Modha (ensemble) and Katy Owen (Margaret and Eleanor).
The Buddha of Suburbia is adapted by Wise Children’s artistic director Emma Rice with Kureishi. Rice will again direct. The returning creative team features set designer Rachana Jadhav, costume designer Vicki Mortimer, sound and video designer Simon Baker, lighting designer Jai Morjaria, composer Niraj Chag, choreographer Etta Murfitt, fight director Kev McCurdy and casting director Matthew Dewsbury CDG.
Rice said, “I’m thrilled that The Buddha of Suburbia is getting another life and even more thrilled to have such an incredibly talented cast performing it and bringing renewed energy and vitality to it. Above all, I can’t wait to see this delicious, naughty and tender piece back on stage and to celebrate Wise Children’s collaboration with the RSC—I hope it’s the first of many.”
RSC co-artistic directors Tamara Harvey and Daniel Evans added, “Emma Rice and her team inspire us consistently and The Buddha of Suburbia is no exception. We’re thrilled that audiences at the Barbican will get to savour the show’s wit, energy and audacity.”
The Buddha of Suburbia will run at the Barbican from Tuesday October until Saturday 16 November. Press night will be Tuesday 29 October.