Zahid Mubarek, a young British Asian man, was a local lad from Walthamstow, just a couple of miles up the road from this theatre. He got into trouble with the law and found himself in Feltham Young Offenders Institute. Little did he or his family know that he was about to be dealt a death sentence. On the eve of his release, Zahid was attacked by his cellmate. One week later he died of his injuries. How was this allowed to happen?

One of Britain’s pre-eminent young writers traces a family’s pursuit of the truth behind his death. Gladiator Games, is based on interviews and accounts of the public inquiry into the fatal assault on Zahid Mubarek, a public enquiry which was for years denied them by DEavid Blunkett's Home Office. Gladiator Games examines this and the staggering incompetence of the official response to this tragic event.

Cast in order of speaking:

Imtiaz Mubarek, Zahid Mubarek - Ray Panthaki

Robert Stewart, Duncan Keys - Tom McKay

Maurice Travis, Jamie Barnes - Nick Bagnall

Amin Mubarek, Suresh Grover - Shiv Grewal

Sajida Mubarek, Satwant Randhawa - Claire Lichie

All other parts played by members of the company

Post-show discussions and debates following every evening performance: after each evening’s performance of Gladiator Games, a panel consisting of a senior member of the creative team, a representative for the Zahid Mubarek family, an academic/case expert and a high profile informed opinion leader will lead the post show discussions. The event will be chaired by a distinguished guest.

The post show discussion panel will include dignitaries such as:
Tariq Ali (Novelist, Historian, Broadcaster, Film-Maker, Political Campaigner) - Imtiaz Amin (Zahid Mubarek's Uncle) - Dr Benjamin Bowling (Professor of Criminology & Criminal Justice In The School of Law, King’s College, London University and Author)- Saffron Burrows (Actor and Political Activist) - Reeta Chakrabarti ( BBC Political and Social Affairs Broadcaster) - George Galloway MP (MP for Bethnal Green, Leader of Respect Party) - Judith Gardner (Councillor for tower Hamlets) - Neil Gerrard MP (MP for Walthamstow - Zahid Mubarek’s family live in his constituency) - Suresh Grover (Anti-Racism Campaigner and Founding Member of The National Civil Rights Movement) - Jeremy Hardy (Political Comedian) - Linton Kwesi Johnson (Dub Poet, Writer, Broadcaster) - Imran Khan (Leading Lawyer and Human Rights Campaigner) - Oona King (Former Labour MP and Sky News Special Correspondent) - Art Malik (Actor and Political Activist) - Colin Moses (National Chair of The Prison Officers Association) - Harold Pinter (Playwright, Director, 2005 Nobel Prize in Literature Laureates) - Shavon Johnson (Newham Young Offenders) - Jon Snow (Journalist, Broadcaster and Channel 4 News Anchor) - Gary Younge ( Guardian Columnist and Author) - Samuel West (Artistic Director, Sheffield Theatres) - Asad Rehman (Civil Rights Campaigner) - Sir David Ramsbotham (Author and Former Chief Inspec tor of Prisons) - Benjamin Zephaniah (Poet, Novelist, Playwright, Broadcaster Campaigner).

Top