This play was first performed in 1997. The author is Ayub khan-din. The theme is based on a family of Anglo-Pakistani. In the play East is East the 'twain' have met for a Muslim man from Pakistan has married a Catholic woman from Salford, near Manchester. They have had seven children, six boys and a girl, and are running a fish and chip shop near their home. The parents both have a very strong vision of themselves. The father, George, wants his children to be accepted by the Muslim community and live by its rules. George’s wife, Ella, has agreed to this on her marriage but is still herself a Catholic and has influenced her children with her ideas.
This play was first received as a controversial and revolutionary. It is revolutionary because it is a modern way of looking things in a way that hadn’t really been done before and it shows struggling with different cultures. It is a cultural conflict and lots of different prospective. It is controversial because it is complex and going against normal attitudes and exploring difficult subject. Furthermore when George uses violent behaviour when his family does not act obey his rules. It uses a cultural stereotype.
Ayub khan din means “in a way” because this play is based in real life events. Sajit is a reflection of Ayub khan-din life with his father taking control. Ayub khan-din says “Pakistan was happening in our house”. This show at the time that the Pakistan war against India it was even getting worse in the house.
In this play east is east there is a lot cultural and religious belief in the beginning the play. In the beginning of the play I think George is the most cultural and religious because Sajit was uncircumcised and this was going against his faith. Therefore George gets really angry. We know this by “Bloody everything, how he can go mosque again, when he got bloody tickle-tackle”. This show Sajit cannot go to the mosque again because he is uncircumcised.
As an audience I think George