Alia Bano
Encyclopedia
Alia Bano is a British playwright of Pashtun
origin. A graduate of Queen Mary, University of London
, she currently works as a schoolteacher in London. Bano is a product of the Royal Court Theatre
's programme for young playwrights, and her debut play Shades was staged at the Court in early 2009. The play met with instant acclaim from the critics. Charles Spencer
wrote in his four-star review in The Daily Telegraph
: "Shades turns out to be something both special and unexpected – a Muslim Bridget Jones's Diary". Shades also received strong reviews in the Guardian
, the Evening Standard
and the International Herald Tribune
among others and won Bano the award for Most Promising Playwright in the 2009 Evening Standard Awards
.
She will also be partaking in the Bush Theatre
's 2011 project Sixty Six where she has written a piece based upon a chapter of the King James Bible
Pashtun people
Pashtuns or Pathans , also known as ethnic Afghans , are an Eastern Iranic ethnic group with populations primarily between the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan and the Indus River in Pakistan...
origin. A graduate of Queen Mary, University of London
Queen Mary, University of London
Queen Mary, University of London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
, she currently works as a schoolteacher in London. Bano is a product of the Royal Court Theatre
Royal Court Theatre
The Royal Court Theatre is a non-commercial theatre on Sloane Square, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is noted for its contributions to modern theatre...
's programme for young playwrights, and her debut play Shades was staged at the Court in early 2009. The play met with instant acclaim from the critics. Charles Spencer
Charles Spencer (journalist)
Charles Spencer is a British journalist. He has been the drama critic of The Daily Telegraph since 1991. In 2006, Compton Miller of The Independent wrote in a profile: "This convivial ex-alcoholic is best remembered for his description of Nicole Kidman's nude scene in The Blue Room as 'pure...
wrote in his four-star review in The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
: "Shades turns out to be something both special and unexpected – a Muslim Bridget Jones's Diary". Shades also received strong reviews in the Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, the Evening Standard
Evening Standard
The Evening Standard, now styled the London Evening Standard, is a free local daily newspaper, published Monday–Friday in tabloid format in London. It is the dominant regional evening paper for London and the surrounding area, with coverage of national and international news and City of London...
and the International Herald Tribune
International Herald Tribune
The International Herald Tribune is a widely read English language international newspaper. It combines the resources of its own correspondents with those of The New York Times and is printed at 38 sites throughout the world, for sale in more than 160 countries and territories...
among others and won Bano the award for Most Promising Playwright in the 2009 Evening Standard Awards
Evening Standard Awards
The Evening Standard Theatre Awards, established in 1955, are presented annually for outstanding achievements in London Theatre. Sponsored by the Evening Standard newspaper, they are announced in late November or early December...
.
She will also be partaking in the Bush Theatre
Bush Theatre
The Bush Theatre is based in Shepherd's Bush, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. It was established in 1972 above The Bush public house by Brian McDermott, and has since become one of the most celebrated new writing theatres in the world. An intimate venue renowned for its close-up...
's 2011 project Sixty Six where she has written a piece based upon a chapter of the King James Bible