CRUSH
DEBUTE PLAY
Price: £10
Language: English
Kayd in collaboration with Oxford House will be premiering the new play Crush, written by Hadsan Mohamoud as part of the Soho Theatre Writers’ Lab, with dramaturgical support from Soho Theatre and the Bush Theatre. Starring Hadsan Mohamud and Mohamed Hashi, and produced by Janfirst Productions.
Synopsis:
A clinic waiting room. Two Somali teens. One awkward meet-cute.
Najma has been in treatment for years. Zakariya's just starting out. She sketches. He writes poems. Neither of them is ready to talk. Until they meet each other. As their sessions continue, so do the chats. And the jokes. And the secrets. Crush is a tender, funny and honest story about identity, connection and the messy path to healing. Content warnings: Eating Disorders, Grief, Trauma
Crush Cast and Crew
JanFirst Productions is a Black, female-led Somali company dedicated to telling big, bold stories that centre Global Majority voices. Guided by the motto “for us, by us,” JanFirst creates unapologetic theatre and film that pushes boundaries while celebrating culture and community.
Suher Sofi is a British-Somali freelance producer and founder of JanFirst Productions. She produced the acclaimed play Desperate Times and works full-time in TV, with credits including The One Show, Amol Rajan Interviews, and Life & Death Row for BBC Studios. She is currently developing new projects, including her directorial debut.
Raha Mahamoud is a freelance theatre and film producer, and has previously produced award-winning plays such as Dugsi Dayz, Desperate Times and My Period the Cockblock. She also consults on theatre and film projects and is working on new projects.
Yasmin Moalin is a junior creative producer and community engagement specialist. She has up to six years of experience working with community organisations to deliver social action and advocacy projects at a local level, focussing on empowering community voices.
Hadsan Mohamud is an actor and writer, who has trained with the National Youth Theatre, Orange Tree Theatre, and the Bush Theatre Young Company. Her writing has been supported by Kiln Theatre, Soho Writers Lab, and the London Library Emerging Writers Programme. Her debut play Crush will premiere this year at Somali Week Festival.
Mohamed Hashi is a Somali-British actor based in London, working across film and stage. He has appeared in short films, playing lead roles in productions such as Everyday, The Estate. Mohamed is a member of the National Youth Theatre and Bush Young Company until 2027.
Mya Onwugbonu is a multi-award-winning writer, director, poet, and cinematographer, passionate about telling untold stories that spark conversation and push boundaries. Her work has been recognised with honours such as Best Director at The Black British Theatre Awards and Show of the Week at the VAULT Awards for Hear Me Now.