‘The P Word’ at the Bush Theatre 2026: A powerful and pertinent two hander that implores its audience to find their humanity

Waleed Akhtar’s Olivier Award winning play, ‘The P Word,’ has triumphantly returned to the Bush Theatre four years after its premiere. Intimately following the intertwining lives of two gay Pakistani men, Bilal (Akhtar) and Zafar (Esh Alladi), Akhtar’s writing offers a powerful and pertinent look at what it means to be South Asian and queer today.

At the centre of the show is Bilal and Zafar – expertly played by Akhtar and Alladi. Bilal prefers to be known as Billy, and although he attempts to shed his Pakistani heritage, he regularly encounters racism on the gay scene, and struggles with the emptiness of hookup culture. In contrast, Zafar has fled Pakistan after his father had his lover killed. Despite the differing nature of the characters, Akhtar and Alladi make their growing bond incredibly believable and engaging, crafting a palpable chemistry that had the audience hooked throughout. Akhtar recognises that, although they both fit under the same umbrella, Pakistani and queer, they have completely different life experiences. Akhtar deftly proves through his writing that through openness and communication, progress and connection can be made.

Max Johns’ staging is simple but effective, and throughout the first half has both men narrate their story on separate sides of a rotating circular structure. As well as ensuring the play focusses on the humanity of the characters, the set neatly represents how Bilal and Zafar are both two sides of the same coin, and at the start of the play, how close, yet how far away they are from one another. Rachael Nanyonjo’s movement direction adds extra layers to the characters.

At the heart of the show is a deeply personal, and political story. The play is unafraid to confront complex themes surrounding homophobia and asylum, at times in quite heavy-handed fashion and as a result does feel like a battle cry. We don’t often get to see queer Pakistani men on stage, or the asylum seekers behind the headlines, and Akhtar deserves praise for presenting a piece of work that has the ability to challenge society and spark a conversation about the world that we currently live in.

4/5

Thanks for reading!

Photography by Craig Fuller

Tickets available here: https://www.bushtheatre.co.uk/event/the-p-word-2026/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=7179390604&gbraid=0AAAAADniBzeHeeqirvwl6eqOHJppvS0XM&gclid=Cj0KCQjwrZTRBhDSARIsAHidYfdVw45lcZ27s_a38fkyTnDbbbdXGr8D-nDVk1RIQMkk-A2EPq-RQQMaAunGEALw_wcB