West Yorkshire Playhouse presents 'Mela' (Summer Festival) at The Drum in Birmingham on 17th and 18 July 2008. Mela is a tale of friendship, aspirations and destiny written by Bradford born Tajinder Singh Hayer and directed by Alex Chisholm. The play follows the stories of a few characters at the Mela: Troy, just back from Iraq and trying to be the model British soldier; his old friend Ranjit ready for a display of Sikh martial arts; and Sajjad and Mariam exchanging barbed comments over his Al-Aqsa mosque calendars and her hand-made pottery. And then there’s Angela who, from the comfort of the Ferris-wheel, quietly observes them all as an unexpected event throws together old friends and new found enemies.

Taj has lived in Bradford all his life and for the last five years he has been able to earn his living as a writer. His first full length drama, 'Players' was a sell-out at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in 2006. For 'Mela' Taj practically camped at last years huge Mela in Bradford interviewing stall holders and the community. The results of these conversations can now be seen on the stage interwoven with the eclectic characters in the play.

“The Mela seemed like an inherently theatrical space, both professional and for people to display themselves in a social setting; a place where different groups of people who might live very separate lives bump into each other, which seemed like a recipe for Drama.” said Hayer