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The Buddha of Suburbia

Series: Modern Plays
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Brief Description
My name is Karim Amir, and I am an Englishman born and bred. Almost. South London in the late seventies. High unemployment, high inflation, food shortages and strikes. But despite the winter of discontent, 17-year-old Karim’s life is about to explode into glorious technicolour as he... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

My name is Karim Amir, and I am an Englishman born and bred. Almost.

South London in the late seventies. High unemployment, high inflation, food shortages and strikes. But despite the winter of discontent, 17-year-old Karim’s life is about to explode into glorious technicolour as he navigates a path to enlightenment. Or at the very least, Beckenham.

Emma Rice adapts the award-winning 1990 novel, which was later turned into an acclaimed TV series, with Hanif Kureishi. On stage, it becomes an irresistible, heart-breaking and joyful exploration of family, friends, sex, theatre and, ultimately, belonging.

This edition was published to coincide with the world premiere at the RSC in April 2024.

Series: Modern Plays

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781350512818

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 30 April 2024

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Methuen Drama

Audience: General / adult, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 8.0mm

Width: 124.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 118g

Pages: 104

About the Author

Emma Rice is the proud and excited Artistic Director of her new company, Wise Children. She adapted and directs the company’s forthcoming Bagdad Cafe, and previous productions Angela Carter’s Wise Children (The Old Vic/UK tour) and Enid Blyton’s Malory Towers (Bristol Passenger Shed/UK tour).?For the ENO she directed Orpheus in the Underworld. As Artistic Director of Shakespeare’s Globe (2016–18), she directed Romantics Anonymous, Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Little Matchgirl (and Other Happier Tales). For the previous 20 years, she worked for Kneehigh as an actor, director and Artistic Director. Her productions for Kneehigh include: The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk, Tristan & Yseult, 946: The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips, The Wild Bride, The Red Shoes, The Wooden Frock, The Bacchae, Cymbeline (in association with RSC), A Matter of Life and Death (in association with the National Theatre), Rapunzel (in association with Battersea Arts Centre); Brief Encounter (in association with David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers Productions); Don John (in association with the RSC and Bristol Old Vic); Wah! Wah! Girls (in association with Sadler’s Wells and Theatre Royal Stratford East for World Stages); and Steptoe and Son. Notable engagements elsewhere: the West End production of The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, Oedipussy (Spymonkey); The Empress (RSC); and An Audience with Meow Meow (Berkeley Repertory Theatre).

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Also by Hanif Kureishi

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  • Shattered
    From Hanif Kureishi, author of The Buddha of Suburbia, comes a memoir about the accident that left him paralysed. On Boxing Day 2022, in Rome, Hanif Kureishi had a fall. When he came to, in a pool of blood, he was horrified to realise he had lost the use of his limbs. He could no longer walk, write, or wash...
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  • The Buddha of Suburbia
    My name is Karim Amir, and I am an Englishman born and bred, almost... The hero of Hanif Kureishi's debut novel is dreamy teenager Karim, desperate to escape suburban South London and experience the forbidden fruits which the 1970s seem to offer. When the unlikely opportunity of a life in the theatre announces itself, Karim starts to win the sort...
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  • Shattered
    From Hanif Kureishi, author of The Buddha of Suburbia, a memoir about the accident that left him paralysed. A few days ago, a bomb went off in my life, but this bomb has also shattered the lives of those around me. My partner, my children, my friends. On Boxing Day 2022, in Rome, Hanif Kureishi had a fall. When he...
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