For a quarter of a century, Khayaal has broadened the horizons of diverse audiences by adapting works of Muslim literature that have never before seen the lights of the stage. By making one of the most under-represented canons of world literature accessible to theatre audiences, we are successfully founding a new exciting arena and channel for discovery, dialogue and conviviality. 

From the well known tales of the 1001 nights and those of Rumi to lesser-known and virtually unknown tales from an extensive range of Muslim subcultures and authors, we work to creatively and imaginatively demonstrate shared values and aspirations.

Some of our Authors: Al Ghazali, Al Jahiz, Attar, Galib, Hafez, Ibn Arabi, Ibn Daniyal, Ibn Farid, Ibn Hisham, Ibn Tufail, Ikhwan al Safa, Iqbal, Jami, Khayyam, Mian Mohammed Baksh, Miskawayh, Rumi, Sa’di, Sam’ani, Abdul Sattar Edhi

Some of the Muslim subcultures we’ve covered: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Britain, China (Hui & Uighur), Egypt, India, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Malaysia, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Tunisia, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Yemen and more

Theatre-Without-Walls

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We currently deliver our artistic mission through an annual Theatre-Without-Walls programme. The programme stages on request small scale, high quality and high impact live or digitally streamed performances in partnership with our growing multi-sector national and international network of host partners. Often delivered at short notice to fulfil the specific cultural provision needs of our partners, Theatre-without-Walls reaches beyond conventional theatre spaces and approaches to serve new and diverse audiences wherever they are.

Revolving around an extensive collection of tales of wisdom, wonder and humour from a rich mosaic of cultures, Theatre-without-Walls is sufficiently versatile to fulfil the thematic, topical and issue-based needs of our host partners as well as bring a live or virtual performance dimension to their annual calendar of events and occasions e.g. Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Hajj, Mawlid, Israa & Mi’raaj, Christmas, Easter, Black History Month, National Storytelling Week, World Book Day, Interfaith Week, etc.

Book a live or virtual performance from our repertoire for your occasion or event or commission your own bespoke performance: info@khayaal.co.uk

Muslim Heritage Stories

1001 Nights | Edhi Means Love | Eid Stories | Fasting Bequeaths Wisdom Tales | Knowledge Tales | Ibn Khaldun Biopic | Midsummer Tales from the East | Riding a Donkey Backwards Tales of Mulla Nasruddin | Rumi Tales | Tales from Muslim Africa | Tales from Muslim China | Tales from Muslim India and many more

Christian-Muslim Stories

The Sultan & The Saint and Flight to Abyssinia

Multifaith Stories

Three thematic collections on character virtues, female empowerment and the environment from Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Sikhism.

Supported Productions

Accidentally Muslim

A one-hander bio play by Lauren Booth. A Khayaal supported production that premiered at the Gilded Balloon at the Edinburgh Festival in 2019 receiving popular and critical acclaim.

Book a performance from our repertoire for your occasion or event or commission your own bespoke performance: info@khayaal.co.uk

Coffee (Under development)

A conspiracy by Muslims to chemically alter the colour and creed of Britain or driver of intellectual and industrial revolution? Coffee is Restoration meets the 1001 nights.

Our forthcoming production explores the introduction of coffee to Britain in the 17th century. The play will portray the hostility, fear and hysteria with which ‘the Mohametan Berry’ or ‘the abominable liquor of infidels’ was initially received by large sections of British society and chart the beverage’s journey to popularity and the socio-cultural changes that were generated from the ‘dens of sedition’ as the new coffee-houses were then called by opposition movements. These movements included breweries, religious institutions and royalty.

The play will also explore in parallel the way in which coffee provoked controversy in the Muslim world through the cultural and legalistic debates that took place at the time concerning whether or not coffee was a lawful substance given its effects upon the mind and body. The play is intended to mirror and contribute to global contemporary discourse on change, difference and otherness and the culture and politics of fear through the metaphor of the story of coffee, the second most traded commodity in the world.

  • Edhi Means Love 2021

  • Rumi

  • The Beloved

  • The Mullah’s Physician

  • The Quest

  • The Passion

We offer:

  • Theatre Productions (Repertoire and Commissions)

  • Film Productions

  • Voice Over & Audio Productions

  • Dramatic Storytelling

  • Drama Workshops

  • School Residencies

  • Training

  • Consultancy

to a broad range of clients including:

  • Venues (theatres, museums, libraries, places of worship, etc)

  • Events (festivals, conferences, award ceremonies, exhibitions, weddings, etc)

  • Governments

  • Local Authorities

  • Schools, Colleges and Universities

  • Corporations

  • Young Offenders Institutions


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Key Clients & Partners:


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