1001 at Theatre503

1001 is a new play about love and death in our times written by Safiyah Zanabi and directed by Mimi Pattinson, performed by Safiyah and Adam Isla O'Brien.

We (Mimi and Safiyah) are two young creatives at the beginning of our careers in theatre, and we would be so grateful for any support you might be able to offer to help us stage this play to its fullest potential. The play has been programmed by Theatre503 and we are in discussion with exciting new venues about its future life. You can read more about us and the project below.

In a modern world that has increasingly severed our engagement with our own mortality, 1001 confronts the existential questions that quietly underpin our lives and relationships. Inspired by One Thousand and One Nights, the play explores storytelling, cultural differences, and the relationship between love and endings with dark humour and heart.

‘Do you believe in God?’

‘What do you want me to say?'

‘Don’t be diplomatic.’

Tom and Leila have been together for 1001 nights. In the early hours of the morning before the funeral of a mutual friend, their relationship is called into question.

Leila and Tom begin to tell each other stories to try to get back to sleep. The stories they make up for one another, beginning as fairytales and dreams, soon betray hidden truths about their relationship — about themselves, their pasts, and their imagined futures.

As the sun rises and the funeral creeps closer, Tom and Leila are forced to find ‘endings' for the stories they have begun telling, and to confront what ‘endings’ really mean.

Mimi Pattinson was recently assistant director to Tim Jackson on Something Rotten! in the West End. Recent directing credits include Rishi Sunak’s Doing a Musical! (Waterloo East), Second Temple (Riverside Studios), and On Your Bike (Ed Fringe, ETC Poland). Mimi studied English at Oxford and Cambridge. Mimi is represented by Jenn Morgan at Curtis Brown.

Safiyah Zanabi, writer and playing Leila, recently wrote and performed in Temps (Theatre503) She also recently produced, wrote and acted in short film Fear Itself. Her writing has been performed at RADA Studios, The Burton Taylor Studio, Oxford Playhouse, and Edinburgh Fringe. She graduated from an MA at RADA after studying Philosophy and Theology at Oxford.

Adam Isla O'Brien, playing Tom, has recently completed shooting a second season of AMC’s Sanctuary: A Witch's Tale in which he plays a leading role. Prior to this, he starred in STRIKE! at the Southwark Playhouse and AMC's Moonhaven. Adam trained at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and was a Spotlight prize nominee. Adam is represented by Olivia Woodward at Curtis Brown.

You can find us on instagram at 1001_theatre503

And tickets here: https://theatre503.com/whats-on/one-thousand-and-one/

We'd be so thrilled by any contributions you might be able to make, and can't wait to share this work with you. Thank you.