LOVE, fire, and justice-three words that have been used to describe Kamal Kaan’s contemporary adaptation of Sophocles’ Greek tale- Aaliyah: After Antigone.

A play that explores the notion of ‘Britishness’ in minority communities and delves into the question of the relationship between country and identity.

Directed by Alex Chisholm and Dermot Daly, the play centres around two sisters, Aaliyah and Imani, who are trying to save their brother Syeed, who has been deported.

Aaliyah: After Antigone is a contemporary re-telling of the Greek tragedy Antigone by Sophocles.

This modern adaptation is set in the Local Authority offices in Bradford and follows the plight of British Bangladeshi sisters Aaliyah and Imani as they try and save their brother Syeed who has been deported by the Home Office.

Aaliyah must rise and face the might of the Home Parveen Parvaiz, but Aaliyah’s political activism puts her own life in danger.

The production is both a digital and live experience that examines the fragile nature of citizenship, making us question our own relationship to ourselves and our country.

Director Alex Chisholm said: “The past 18 months has underlined the relevance and resonance of this story, both in our enforced embrace of all things digital, but also the question of who gets to belong, who gets to be sacrificed, and who has to fight back.”

Halema Hussain, who recently starred alongside Colin Firth in the film Supernova and plays the lead Aaliyah, said: “This play centres around the power of community.

“It shows that though we are all different, we are similar in so many ways and looking for those similarities brings us together.

Aaliyah: After Antigone will be performed live but also steamed live, pushing the boundaries of traditional theatre to bring in a bigger audience.

The show will be premiered at Impact Hub Bradford on October 8 and will run till October 16.

Freedom Studios presents, in association with CARBON: Imagineering, a boutique digital innovation and R&D practice.

Playwright Kamal Kaan said: “This modern adaptation of Antigone is about taking the essential drama from the original and transplanting it into our contemporary world.

“The two sisters Antigone and Ismene are now Aaliyah and Imani: two British-Bangladeshi sisters. With their own citizenship under threat, the play becomes a fierce battle of loyalty, family, love, and politics, all set within the landscape of Bradford.”

Aaliyah: After Antigone is an all Bradford based production, from the writer down to the cast.

The play offers specific representation of Bangladeshis in the UK, where previously the South Asian community was seen as a homogenous group.

Freedom Studios is a Bradford based intercultural theatre company and look to tell stories that are relevant to the people of Bradford.

Alex said: “We need stories that are relevant to the people of Bradford and something that they can relate to.

“There’s so much diversity in Bradford and this story will impact everyone differently but it will leave them with questions and a lot to reflect on.

“It will definitely start conversations and keep people talking about society and moral justice.”