A vibrant new stage production is set to take over the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre this season, as Marriage Material makes its premiere from 22 May to 21 June 2025. Adapted for the stage for the first time from Sathnam Sanghera’s best-selling novel, this heartfelt and humorous tale explores family, identity, and the invisible weight of legacy through the lens of British-Asian life.
The production is adapted by acclaimed playwright Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti, whose previous work includes Behzti and A Kind of People, and is directed by Iqbal Khan, known for East is East and his work on the 2022 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony. This marks a powerful creative pairing, bringing new energy and emotional depth to Sanghera’s much-loved story.
Set between a Wolverhampton corner shop in the 1970s and contemporary London, Marriage Material examines the intersections of love, tradition, and generational change. The story follows the protagonist’s return to the family-run shop following a death in the family, triggering a journey through memories, secrets, and cultural expectations that span decades.
The cast features an impressive line-up, including Jaz Singh Deol (EastEnders) as Mr Bains/Arjan, Kiran Landa (The Archers) as Kamaljit, and Irfan Shamji (Hamlet) as Dhanda. They are joined by Tommy Belshaw (Jim/Bill), Anoushka Deshmukh (Surinder), Celeste Dodwell (Claire/Mrs Flanagan), Avita Jay (Mrs Bains), and Omar Malik (Ranjit/Tanvir). Casting is by Jatinder Chera.
With a focus on layered storytelling and lived cultural experience, the production captures both the specificity of South Asian British life and universal questions of identity and belonging. Sanghera’s novel has often been praised for its candid exploration of class, race, and generational friction, and this theatrical interpretation promises to retain those themes while offering fresh visual and emotional resonance on stage.
Presented as a co-production by the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, Marriage Material is poised to be a highlight of the 2025 theatre calendar — bringing a best-selling book to new life, and opening up conversations that continue to shape the fabric of contemporary British society.
