HISTORY

The ATS first began as a week long
summer school project in 1997. It was
set up out of the recognition that young
Asian people were not accessing drama
schools or theatre and that no artistic
activity was available for young Asians
in Bradford. Over three years and a series
of summer schools, specialist workshop
weekends, and small performances RLTC
identified that the project needed more
continuity for it to develop to its full
potential. In January 2002 Madani Younis
was employed as Director of the project
to run regular weekly workshops and create a production.

STREETS OF RAGE (2002), a play about the Bradford riots, was created and was an unprecedented success selling out at the West Yorkshire Playhouse and Theatre in the Mill Bradford.

SILENT CRY (2003/04) by Madani Younis was performed during 2003 and 2004. A story about a death in Police custody and a Mother's journey that begins as her son's life ends. This became the first national tour of the Asian Theatre School and has been published by Oberon Books.

FREEWORLD (2004) by Madani Younis & Street Voices were performed by the Asian Theatre School during 2004, performances were held at West Yorkshire Playhouse Leeds, Theatre in the Mill Bradford & Contact Theatre, Manchester to great acclaim.
Freeworld was part of Contacting the World, a ground breaking project bringing artists together from across the world to create theatre. The Asian Theatre School and Studio Theatre Syria collaborated to develop Freeworld, this unique international collaboration inspired a production that examined how contemporary notions of 'terror', 'terrorism', and 'Islamophobia' manifest themselves in the psyche of society in the future, and how we as a society will change as a result of them.

STREET VOICES (2004) encouraged members of the Asian Theatre School to write, direct and perform in a series of short scenes, nurturing and challenging a new generation of British writers and directors as they explore both contemporary and traditional themes.

Substance, style and real insight are the standards by which audiences are coming to know the Asian Theatre School. Dig Yorkshire.com