| Hammaad Chaudry | |
|---|---|
| Education | Master of Fine Arts |
| Alma mater | Columbia University University of Surrey |
| Occupation | Playwright |
| Website | Official website |
Hammaad Chaudry is a playwright from Edinburgh, Scotland. His professional debut was in 2018 with the play An Ordinary Muslim at the New York Theatre Workshop.
Early life and education
Chaudry is the son of Pakistani immigrants and grew up in Edinburgh. At the age of 19 he moved to England to initially study law at the University of Surrey. He joined a writing program at the Royal Court Theatre in London which focused on Muslim writers. He later attended Columbia University and was introduced to Tony Kushner who became his mentor.
Career
At Columbia University, Chaudry developed An Ordinary Muslim, a thesis play which would also be directed by Kushner for two readings in 2014. The play opened at the New York Theatre Workshop in 2018 and tells the story of a British Asian Muslim family, The Bhatti’s, and their son’s struggle to belong to different cultural worlds. Directed by Jo Bonney, the play was called "rich and complex" by The Financial Times and selected as The New York Magazine Critic's Pick. Chaudry was also referred to as "no ordinary playwright" by Robert Hofler for his work with the play.
Chaudry's earlier works include Salaam, Mr. Bush, Tokens, Kismat, and God Willing which have played in theaters in both the United States and United Kingdom. He has also received numerous awards for his works.
References
- ^ Holdren, Sara (26 February 2018). "Theater Review: Dramas Family and Global, in An Ordinary Muslim". Vulture.
- ^ Collins-Hughes, Laura; Deb, Sopan; Trueman, Matt (20 February 2018). "3 Young People to Watch in Theater This Spring". The New York Times.
- Qureshi, Bilal (15 March 2018). "Staging Muslims: Identity Angst In American Theater". NPR.
- McGuinness, Max (27 February 2018). "An Ordinary Muslim, New York Theatre Workshop — rich and complex". Financial Times.
- Clement, Olivia (16 March 2018). "Director Jo Bonney Reveals the Hard Work of Scheduling". Playbill.
- Hofler, Robert (26 February 2018). "'An Ordinary Muslim' Theater Review: Hammaad Chaudry Is No Ordinary Playwright". TheWrap.
- "Hammaad Chaudry". New Dramatists.