The Men in White

October 13 – November 4 2018, Mainspace Theatre

#ftMeninWhite

Running Time: 120 minutes
Recommended for ages 18+

Written by Anosh Irani
Directed by Philip Akin

A Factory production

A heartwarming tale of life, love, and cricket

When Abdul’s cricket team want to end their losing streak, they decide to recruit his brother, Hasan, who is an expert all-rounder. But bringing Hasan from India to Canada will take more than just a plane ticket, and not all of the team agree with the cost. Alternating between Mumbai and Vancouver, this touching story follows these unforgettable characters as they discover that home can be found in a sport and unite family across nations.

Content Warning

The Men in White contains strong language and some nudity.

L to R: Huse Madhavji, Tahirih Vejdani, Chanakya Mukherjee. Set and Lighting Design by Steve Lucas, Costume Design by Lindsay Dagger Junkin, Photo by Joseph Michael Photography

L to R: Cyrus Faird, Farid Yazdani, John Chou, Sugith Varughese, Gugun Deep Singh. Set and Lighting Design by Steve Lucas, Costume Design by Lindsay Dagger Junkin, Photo by Joseph Michael Photography

L to R: Gugun Deep Singh, Sugith Varughese, Farid Yazdani, John Chou. Set and Lighting Design by Steve Lucas, Costume Design by Lindsay Dagger Junkin, Photo by Joseph Michael Photography

L to R: Chanakya Mukherjee, John Chou. Set and Lighting Design by Steve Lucas, Costume Design by Lindsay Dagger Junkin, Photo by Joseph Michael Photography

About the Playwright

Anosh Irani

Anosh Irani has published four critically acclaimed novels: The Cripple and His Talismans, a national bestseller; The Song of Kahunsha, which was an international bestseller and was shortlisted for Canada Reads and the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize; Dahanu Road, which was nominated for the Man Asian Literary Prize; and The Parcel, a finalist for the Governor General’s Literary Award, the Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize, and the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize. It was longlisted for the 2017 DSC Prize for South Asian Literature and is longlisted for the 2018 Dublin Literary Award. The Parcel was chosen as one of the Best Books of the Year by the Globe and Mail, Quill & Quire, National Post, CBC Books and The Walrus. His play Bombay Black won 5 Dora Mavor Moore Awards, including for Outstanding New Play, and his anthology The Bombay Plays: The Matka King & Bombay Black was shortlisted for the Governor General’s Literary Award. His new play, The Men in White, was nominated for 3 Jessie Richardson Awards including for Outstanding Original Script and has been shortlisted for the 2018 Governor General’s Award. His work has been translated into eleven languages.

About the Director

Philip Akin

Upcoming:
Tapestry Opera / Obsidian: Of the Sea by Ian Cusson / Kanika Ambrose (2023)
Blue Bird Collective: Maanomaa, My Brother by Tawiah McCarthy & Brad Cooke (2023)

Directing:
Shaw Festival: Gem of the Ocean by August Wilson (2022)
Tapestry Opera: Gould’s Wall by Brian Current / Liza Balkin (2022)*
Shaw Festival: Trouble in Mind by Alice Childress (2021)
Sheridan College: Concord Floral by Jordan Tanahill (2021)
Shaw Festival: Gatsby Jazz, Sonny’s Blues by Jay Turvey / Paul Sportelli (2021)
Young People’s Theatre: Million Billion Pieces by David Brock/Gareth Williams (2019)
Obsidian Theatre: Pass Over by Antoinette Nwandu (2019) +
Harold Green Jewish Theatre: Actually by Anne Zeigler (2019) +
Soulpepper: Art by Yasmina Reza (2019)
Musical Stage/Mirvish: Next to Normal by Brian Yorkey (2019)*

Awards and Nominations:
Toronto Theatre Critics Award: Best Director (2019) Actually and Pass Over ++
Evie Nomination (Winnipeg) –The Humans – for Best Director (2018)**
Dora Nominations for Best Director in the General Theatre Division 2008, 2011, 2012, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2022 {winning in 2012 Topdog Underdog}*, two nominations 2017 {winning in 2017 for Master Harold…and the Boys), 2019 (nomination Next to Normal), 2020 (nomination Million Billion Pieces), 2022 (nomination Gould’s Wall Opera Division)