Jassa is to star in the world premiere of Wipers by Ishy Din at Curve.
Commissioned by Curve and co-produced with Belgrade Theatre Coventry and Watford Palace Theatre, Wipers is inspired by the real life story of Khuddadad Khan, the first South Asian soldier to be awarded a Victoria Cross for his extraordinary bravery at the First Battle of Ypres. This startling new play honours the contribution of the million South Asian soldiers who fought alongside British soldiers during the First World War.
"I got my dad a Curve membership for Christmas and saw Wipers advertised. I immediately pestered Suba via Twitter and email - I had no idea if there was even an appropriate role! But my heritage and the British Empire has been a key focus of my personal research and creative drive. As a half-Punjabi Leicester boy it seemed like far too good an opportunity to miss. Thankfully there was a role!" - Jassa
Wipers runs 14 April - 23 April, with previews from 8 April, before running at Watford Palace Theatre 27 April - 7 May, and Belgrade Theatre Coventry 12 May - 21 May.
BOOK TICKETS (Curve) / BOOK TICKETS (Watford) / BOOK TICKETS (Coventry)
Curve Associate Director Suba Das directs Jassa as Thomas, Waleed Akhtar (Salmon Fishing in the Yemen) as Ayub, Simon Rivers (Doctors) as Sadiq and Sartaj Garewal (Behind The Beautiful Forevers) as A.D.
Wipers is set in October 1914 when the British forces, bolstered by huge numbers of volunteer soldiers from across the Empire, have suffered huge casualties at Ypres, in one of the first bloody battles of The Great War. As a sole survivor on the battlefield holds off the advancing enemy troops, a group of South Asian and British soldiers seek refuge in an abandoned barn. Over the course of a single night, this group of men must confront their fears and find a way to come together if they are to survive.
"We continue to celebrate diversity and share stories from many different perspectives in Ishy Din’s profoundly moving new play, Wipers. The play celebrates the extraordinary contribution of South Asian soldiers during the Great War and we are proud to present it during this centenary. Our director, Suba Das has assembled a tremendous company of actors and we are also delighted to welcome designer Isla Shaw back to Curve." - Chris Stafford (Chief Executive) and Nikolai Foster (Artistic Director of Curve)
BOOK TICKETS (Curve) / BOOK TICKETS (Watford) / BOOK TICKETS (Coventry)
More information is available via Curve here.