Pilot Theatre announce a national tour of The Bone Sparrow

Pilot Theatre have adapted Zana Fraillon’s The Bone Sparrow about a Rohingya refugee boy who has spent his entire life living in a detention centre in Australia.

The Bone Sparrow has been adapted by Shakthi Shakthidharan, who is an Australian writer, producer, composer and director for screen and stage of Sri Lankan heritage and Tamil ancestry. It’s directed by Pilot Theatre’s Artistic Director Esther Richardson.

It’s story of Subhi, a refugee who was born in an Australian detention centre to a mother who had fled violence in her Burmese homeland. Subhi’s world is confined by the fences of the detention centre in which he lives, but through stories, relationships, and encounters, a wider but not always comfortable world emerges.  

The Pilot Theatre production has also been developed in association with Australian Theatre for Young People and with the support of Bradford’s SBC Theatre, a group of creative professionals and artists who are committed to making work with, about and for those seeking sanctuary in the UK and internationally.

The project has had involvement from the British Rohingya community, who are based in Bradford, and especially from Sirazul Islam who began the project as a young consultant and is now the Assistant Director.  

Sirazul is Rohingya and based in Bradford. He speaks publicly about his experiences of being Rohingya and born into a refugee camp – his story mirrors that of the protagonist Subhi in certain ways. The production team have also spoken to other Rohingya people and young sanctuary-seekers who have consulted on the script. The play’s designer Miriam Nabarro has previously worked in refugee camps.  

The Bone Sparrow will be the third co-production between Pilot Theatre, Derby Theatre, Belgrade Theatre Coventry, Mercury Theatre Colchester, and York Theatre Royal who in 2018 formed a new partnership to develop theatre for younger audiences.

UK Tour

25^th February – 5^th March 2022 -York Theatre Royal

Box Office: 01904 623568 / www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk  

8^th – 12^th March – Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds

Box Office: 01325 701521 / www.theatrclwyd.com/en/

15^th – 19^th March -Derby Theatre

Box Office: 01332 593939 / https://www.derbytheatre.co.uk/the-bone-sparrow

22^nd – 26^th March -Belgrade Theatre, Coventry

Box Office: 02476553055 / http://www.belgrade.co.uk   

29^th March – 2^nd April -Mercury Theatre Colchester

Box Office: 01206 573948 / www.mercurytheatre.co.uk/

6^th April – 23^rd April – Peckham Theatre

Box Office: www.theatrepeckham.co.uk