Queer South Asians, particularly Pakistanis, rarely get media coverage, let alone any positive story-telling. I should know, as a gay man of Pakistani origin, and having monitored the situation for decades. It’s always struck me as odd, given that South Asians represent 25% of the world’s eight billion population, so there must be about a hundred million queer South Asians. Gay Pakistani asylum seekers are even further off the agenda. 

There are, of course, various reasons for this – homophobic Muslim fundamentalists, stifling, overbearing families, racist white queer communities, and the general lack of discussion about sex in Muslim households. Writer and co-star Waleed Akhtar addresses all these issues and more in The P Word, a brilliant Olivier Award-winning play, directed by Anthony Simpson-Pike, which has returned to London´s Bush Theatre following its sold-out 2022 initial run.

Updated to reflect today’s fraught discussions about migrants and the current brutal UK asylum process, The P Word introduces us to Bilal (Akhtar), or Billy as he prefers to be known, a young gay Pakistani Londoner with macho swagger, a gym-toned body and a love of working out, casual sex, nightclubs and his job in the fashion industry. He’s out to his Muslim family, who accept his queerness as long as he doesn’t mention it. Despite his outwardly confident demeanour, there are, however, elements of insecurity and self-loathing on display. His regular rejection on hook-up apps because of his race have led to him to also reject Pakistani men on the apps, and he’s fat-phobic and in general, not the nicest person. He was once fat and bullied himself.… Love has evaded him so far, and maybe there are reasons for that.

We also meet Zafar (Esh Alladi – Bridgerton), a gay Pakistani asylum seeker fleeing persecution in Pakistan. He had a long-term boyfriend back there, who was murdered by Zafar´s father when he found out about their relationship. Zafar was next on the hit-list, giving him no choice but to flee for his life to the UK.  His fraught journey to freedom has stalled in Hounslow, West London, where he is currently stuck in limbo, living in a migrant hostel, unable to work, surviving on $60 a week benefits, with few acquaintances and no family. There, he awaits the years-long decision on his application to remain in the UK. This involves brutal interviews with the UK immigration authorities where he somehow has to prove his homosexuality, a tough call for a man not used to expressing his sexuality in public.

The two men share their stories in dual parallel-lives monologues on a revolving stage, unaware of each other’s existence, their beautiful movement choreographed by Rachel Nanyonjo. Then, by chance, in the second half of the play, at a London Pride, they crash into each other’s lives. Initially, seemingly completely incompatible, they gradually realise they have more in common than they thought. Their shared appreciation of fashion, in particular Alexander McQueen clothes, Pakistani food, their Muslim faith, fitness, Bollywood films, London, and dance floors means there is the possibility for the relationship to develop into something more. Will they or won’t they find love together?

Akhtar has created a very tender, relevant play for our times. The P Word couldn´t be more topical, given the current screeching threat headlines and nasty social media posts about migrants. It humanises these headlines. It’s as much about the gay Pakistani experience as it is about the UK asylum seeker experience, giving voices to multi-layered stories rarely told. Ultimately, it´s a story about humanity and evolution, a rom-com with brutal political and social twists and turns. This gives the play a wide appeal, much wider than the characters’ demographic. The characters have depth – a reminder to look beyond the quick initial assessment we all make of people. The unnecessarily torrid nature of the UK asylum process is laid bare for all to see. You’ll laugh, get angry and hope against hope. It’s a timely nudge that we all need to focus on what unites us rather than on what divides us. Excellent theatre. 

On at the Bush Theatre, London until 27th June

https://www.bushtheatre.co.uk/event/the-p-word-2026/