By TheatreVillage 
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It’s the summer of 2005, and Ismail – ‘Smiley’ to his schoolmates – is about to become the youngest-ever member of his elite public school’s First XI cricket team. A star player full of ambition and talent, he sets his sights on immortality – breaking the school batting record and getting his name into Wisden. But at the start of the season, new coach Mr. Eagles takes a particular dislike to him, for reasons Ismail can’t quite put his finger on. Desperate to prove himself, he runs into a patch of poor form at just the wrong time. Bad luck on the pitch leads to issues off it too, and Ismail finds that no one – friends, family, teammates – seems to get what he’s going through.
Set during England’s famous Ashes victory and the events of 7/7, Ismail discovers that cricket might not be able to take care of everything as it once did.
Katy Galloway Productions & maatin have announced the cast for the UK première of Duck by maatin,at Arcola Theatre. Imy Wyatt Corner, associate artist at Arcola Theatre, directs Omar Bynon as Ismail. The production opens on 29 June, with previews from 27 June, and runs until 15 July.
This one-man show is about a British Indian schoolboy attempting to reach dizzying heights of cricketing glory, whilst having to contend with the challenges of adolescence, the pressures of sporting competition, and come to terms with his identity in an environment that doesn’t cater for difference.
Omar Bynon as Ismail
On Friday 30 June and Saturday 1 July, playwright and producer maatin is hosting three performances designed for those who are usually underrepresented in theatre – both on the stage and in the audience – to feel welcomed, celebrated, and comfortable.
Crucially, no one is excluded from attending them. Instead, the hope is to fill each performance with as many people as possible who identify with the character and the themes of the play.
The 15:30 performance on Saturday 1 July will be followed by an event with figures from the world of sport and academia in discussion with the playwright on south Asian representation and discrimination in sports and beyond, including broadcaster Miriam Walker-Khan, policy researcher Alba Kapoor, and author & academic Duncan Stone.
Playwright and producer maatin said: “This role was written to give a south Asian performer a stage all to themselves, bringing audiences into the seldom-seen perspective of a British Indian, Muslim teenager boy, while playing a wide variety of characters. Omar Bynon is an exceptionally talented performer who has the charisma and skills to bring Ismail’s world to life on stage“
DUCK LISTINGS
Arcola Theatre
Studio 2
24 Ashwin St, London E8 3DL
27 June – 15 July
Press Night: 29 June 8pm 2023
Ticket Prices: from £15
The show will also feature six IBSL performances from 10-15 July starring Nadeem Islam
Box Office: boxoffice@arcolatheatre.com / 020 7503 1646
