Aisha is an award-winning playwright, former Resident Artist at Somerset House Studios and 503 Five Alumni, Theatre 503’s artist development program in London. Her work has been called “Powerful and triumphant ... a celebration of the human will that transcends religion and gender” (The Independent). She’s a Royal Literary Fund Fellow (2020-2022) and an Associate Artist at HighTide.
Aisha has toured site-specific plays NO GUTS, NO HEART, NO GLORY (winner Scotsman Fringe First, shortlist Amnesty International Freedom of Expression Award, 2014) and OUR GLASS HOUSE, (winner Special Commendation Amnesty International Freedom of Expression Award, 2013) across the UK with Common Wealth Theatre. Both plays were a critical success with 4*/5* reviews in the Guardian, The Independent, Scotsman, Herald and Yorkshire Post. NO GUTS, NO HEART, NO GLORY, a play about young Muslim female boxers from Bradford was staged in real boxing gyms and OUR GLASS HOUSE, a play about domestic abuse was staged in disused houses, both had huge success with engaging non-theatre goers and engaged young, diverse participants and audiences across the UK. NO GUTS was published by Oberon Books, part of the Women of the World Festival at the Southbank Centre and Live from TVC with the Battersea Arts Centre on BBC 4.
She’s currently under commission at Contact Theatre in Manchester, NOT IN MY HONOUR a play about honour-based abuse, made with young people from Manchester is being developed for the main stage in 2021. She’s also developing new work with Fuel Theatre in London, adapting the book ‘This is London’ by Ben Judah. As well as conceiving original ideas for theatre, film and TV, Aisha also works as a freelance photo editor for the Financial Times and the New Statesman, having previously worked for The Independent and Reuters.
You can follow Aisha via:
Twitter @_Aisha_Zia
Aisha has toured site-specific plays NO GUTS, NO HEART, NO GLORY (winner Scotsman Fringe First, shortlist Amnesty International Freedom of Expression Award, 2014) and OUR GLASS HOUSE, (winner Special Commendation Amnesty International Freedom of Expression Award, 2013) across the UK with Common Wealth Theatre. Both plays were a critical success with 4*/5* reviews in the Guardian, The Independent, Scotsman, Herald and Yorkshire Post. NO GUTS, NO HEART, NO GLORY, a play about young Muslim female boxers from Bradford was staged in real boxing gyms and OUR GLASS HOUSE, a play about domestic abuse was staged in disused houses, both had huge success with engaging non-theatre goers and engaged young, diverse participants and audiences across the UK. NO GUTS was published by Oberon Books, part of the Women of the World Festival at the Southbank Centre and Live from TVC with the Battersea Arts Centre on BBC 4.
She’s currently under commission at Contact Theatre in Manchester, NOT IN MY HONOUR a play about honour-based abuse, made with young people from Manchester is being developed for the main stage in 2021. She’s also developing new work with Fuel Theatre in London, adapting the book ‘This is London’ by Ben Judah. As well as conceiving original ideas for theatre, film and TV, Aisha also works as a freelance photo editor for the Financial Times and the New Statesman, having previously worked for The Independent and Reuters.
You can follow Aisha via:
Twitter @_Aisha_Zia