''Prayer Room'' is a play by the British playwright Shan Khan. The play was commissioned by the

Edinburgh International Festival The Edinburgh International Festival is an annual arts festival in Edinburgh, Scotland, spread over the final three weeks in August. Notable figures from the international world of music (especially european classical music, classical music) and ...

and premiered at the

Royal Lyceum Theatre The Royal Lyceum Theatre is a 658-seat theatre in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, named after the Theatre Royal Lyceum and English Opera House, the residence at the time of legendary Shakespearean actor Henry Irving. It was built in 1883 by a ...

in a co-production with the

Birmingham Repertory Theatre Birmingham Repertory Theatre, commonly called Birmingham Rep or just The Rep, is a producing theatre based on Centenary Square in Birmingham, England. Founded by Barry Jackson, it is the longest-established of Britain's building-based theatre ...

in August 2005.

Plot

The play is allegorical in nature, set in the bland, non-denominational prayer room of a present-day British University where Jewish, Christian and Muslim students all have specific days when they can use it. Conflict grows when the Jews demand more time, and the Muslims find themselves deprived of their regular Friday slot and the Christians try to take a back-seat and let the other two fight it out.

Premier

The play premiered at

in August 2005 as part of

, before returning for a limited run at

. The play was directed by Angus Jackson and received largely positive reviews. The play was designed by Lucy Osborne and lit by Neil Austin.

Original cast

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– Fiz *

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- Bunce *

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- Jade * William Ellis - Griffin * Tolga Safer - Brother Kazi *

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- Reuben *Hannah Watkins - Rila *Howard Ward - Principal *Peter Swander - Brother Convert

References

{{Reflist 2005 plays English plays Plays set in England