Pezhman

I’d be hunted there, for the greed of this nation and they won’t even give me a place to hide here... but yes, tell me about home, why not? How is home?

Rebin, an Iraqi-Kurd with no safe passage home, has been stuck in the UK immigration system for almost a decade, which has given him plenty of time to get into a routine.

Work. The local hand carwash, under the nurturing eye of the manager, Destan, an Iranian-Kurd and the discerning eye of the owner- Shapur, a proud Persian.

Play. Online gaming with friend Noah, a truck driver and loyal customer of the carwash. Though maybe not so loyal on the virtual battlefield.

Indefinite Leave to Remain. Gorkem: new worker at the carwash, and fresh off the boat. A Turkish-Kurd who claims to be the grandson Apo Ocalan - Kurdish ’freedom fighter’ and current political prisoner.

When boss Shapur proposes using the struggling business as a front for a human trafficking enterprise by smuggling immigrants into the country in the boots of the carwash client’s cars, Rebin’s routine is about to be shattered. Indefinitely.

This edition was published to coincide with the world premiere at Park Theatre in September 2024.

Arzhang Pezhman is a playwright and writer for film. Arzhang has had his work produced by the Royal Court (2000, 2002) and the Birmingham Rep theatre (2005, 2006, 2012) as was writer in residence at Soho Theatre (2006). His plays have been toured nationally, and his work has been developed internationally, including being translated and performed in Italy. He has worked extensively as a playwriting tutor in theatres, schools, pupil referral units and prisons. His short film Two-Tone was produced by the BBC and Eclipse theatre as part of the 10 by 10 project (2012). He worked as writer for Untied Artists to produce a piece which won a Fringe First award at the Edinburgh Festival (2013).