Planet Omar
Step into the fantastically imaginative and chaotic world of Planet Omar, following the adventures of an 8-year-old with a wild imagination, a big heart, and a knack for getting into trouble. This vibrant new stage adaptation based on the beloved books by Zanib Mian has been brought to life by award-winning playwright Asif Khan and director Sameena Hussain.
When Omar’s family moves to a new neighbourhood, he faces a whirlwind of challenges: a new school, an unfriendly neighbour, and a bully who makes every day feel like a battle. But with courage, kindness, and a little help from his family and new best friend Charlie, Omar discovers his not-so-average imagination is his greatest strength.
This world premiere production is a joyful and funny celebration of empathy, community, and resilience. With dynamic storytelling, playful visuals, and a heart-warming message, Planet Omar invites audiences of all ages to laugh, reflect, and cheer for a hero who dares to dream big, even when the odds are stacked against him.
Perfect for families and school groups, this adaptation is a powerful reminder that imagination can be a superpower, and that friendship and understanding can change the world.
Venue
Presented by
Leeds Playhouse, in association with Birmingham Rep & Unicorn Theatre
Based on the novel by
Zanib Mian
Adapted by
Asif Khan
Directed by
Sameena Hussain
Price
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Access Performances
Audio Described: Sat 20 Jun 2pm (described by Carolyn Smith)
A Free Touch Tour is available to book at 12.30pm before the Audio Described performance.
Captioned: Fri 19 Jun 6pm (captioned by Cara Lawless)
Age Guidance
7+
Content advice
Please be aware that this production is currently being made, check back for more information on age guidance and content advisories.
The play has themes of Islamophobia, systemic racism and white privilege.
Babes In Arms
Babes In Arms tickets are available for infants under 2 years old and are charged at a nominal rate of £2. Children over 2 years old require a paid ticket.
To purchase a babe in arms ticket, please select the ‘Babe in Arms’ button at the bottom of the seating plan to add this to your booking’.
Please note Babes in arms tickets are limited so please ensure this is added on at the time of your booking.
Cast
Umar Butt
Umar is an actor, writer, director, theatre maker and a Tees Valley Artist of the year 2025. He is a Pakistani Glaswegian but has been a proud, honorary Smoggy for the past 15 years. He speaks Urdu, Punjabi and English and makes relevant and representative work for communities specifically but not limited to those of the Global Majority.
Recent acting credits: A Teaspoon of Shampoo (Theatre in the Mill); The Jungle Book (Theatre by the Lake); Macbeth (Proteus Theatre Company); My Name Is: Tamasha (Theatre Company); Welcome to the Jungle (ARC Stockton); Bird in the Window; Alex & Eliza (National Tour); What is Love (ARC Stockton); Taggart; Big Sky (BBC Radio 4).
Izzy Coward
Izzy trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.
Stage credits include: Macbeth (Grange Theatre); Three Minute Monologues (Middle Child Theatre); Celia in As You Like It (Northern Broadsides); She/Her/She/Mother & Other in Qweershorts (Queerdog Theatre); Francesca in In a Room with Gavin & Francesca (National Theatre Education); two appearances in OutStageUs (Hive North/Hope Mill Theatre 2021/2022); Naomi in Home Girl (Derby Theatre); Loz in Decades 1980s: Nicer Than Orange Squash (Leeds Playhouse).
Short film credits include: Florence in Uncool (BFI/Little Stitch Productions); Ash in Six Minutes; Jessie in Cat’s Cradle (Knock and Nash); Claire in Two Steps Forward (038 Films) and Rose in Rose (Izzy Pye).
Emaan Durrani
Emaan graduated from Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in 2025. This is her professional stage debut.
Credits whilst training include: Elizabeth Watson in The Watsons and Helen Ludlow in The Welkin.
Other work includes: Jealous People Are Ugly People (BBC).
Joanna Holden
Joanna has worked for The London Performance Studio, Hull Truck, Bolton Octogon, SJT, Polka, Told by an Idiot, Clowns without Borders, Bamboozle Theatre, Creation Theatre, Lyceum Edinburgh, Bristol Old Vic, York Theatre Royal, The British Library , Manchester Royal Exchange, Live Theatre, Northern Stage, Svenska Theatre, Soho Theatre, Keswick Theatre, Bush Theatre, The Royal Court, Bolton Octagon, RNT, Sheffield Crucible, Perth Rep, The Gate, The Tricycle, The Gilded Balloon, Vamos, Kneehigh, Cirque Du Soleil, Cartoon de Salvo, RSC, and The Ding Foundation.
Justin Kendal-Sadiq
Training: Royal Central School of Speech & Drama, MA Acting for Screen, 1 year, 2023 – 2024
Justin Kendal-Sadiq is a Northern actor whose work spans television, video games, theatre, short films and commercials. Justin is a proud alumnus of David Johnson Drama. He has just completed recording for two major AAA video games series’ releasing in 2026 and is also known for his series-regular role as Andy Stevens on CBBC’s BAFTA Award-winning Secret Life of Boys.
Justin is delighted to be cast as Omar in this wonderful production.
Aizah Khan
Aizah is a Midlands based actor of Pakistani heritage. She is a passionate character artist who loves to explore new ways of telling stories. With experience across stage, screen, circus, puppeteering, voice and movement she is a versatile performer always ready to test the limits of her toolbox.
Theatre and Puppetry credits include: WILD (UK Tour); Life of Pi (UK and International Tour); Bradford Rise (City of Culture); The Many Lives of PET#1 (Stans Cafe); SILENCE (European Tour); Come Bowl With Me (Talking Birds); Coventry Moves (City of Culture); A Christmas Carol (Albany Theatre); Milesians – The coming of the Gaels; A Winter’s Tale (Poland).
Television credits include: Phoenix Rise (BBC); I Told My Mum I Was Going On An RE Trip; Performance Live.
Commercial and Voice Over campaigns include: Ladbrokes, Kellogg’s, Chilly’s, Woven Ink, Resume Foundation.
Circus credits include: Around the World in 80 days (Rogueplay); Freaks and Beasts (Rebel Productions); Christmas of Dreams.
Creative Team
Based on the novel by
Zanib Mian
Zanib Mian
Adapter
Asif Khan
Asif Khan
Asif Khan trained at RADA and won the Laurence Olivier Bursary Award in 2008, as well as the Sir Alec Guinness Memorial Award in 2009.
Asif’s stage credits include the RSC’s production of Tartuffe, Paradise of the Assassins at Tara Theatre, The Hypocrite for Hull Truck/the RSC, the UK-wide tour of 5-star Handbagged, his one-man show Love, Bombs and Apples, and A Passage to India at the Park Theatre Finsbury Park.
Recent stage credits include A Kind of People at the Royal Court, Hamlet at the Theatre Royal Windsor. He reprised his titular role in Tartuffe at the Birmingham Rep in 2022, and Pooja Ghai’s Great Expectations at the Royal Exchange, Manchester in 2023.
His debut play as a writer, Combustion played at Tara Theatre and at the Arcola theatre to fantastic reviews.
Asif appeared in Diana & I, the acclaimed five-parter Better for the BBC, ITV’s The Long Shadow and he featured in ITV’s pivotal serial Mr Bates vs The Post Office.
Director
Sameena Hussain
Sameena Hussain
Set, Costume & Puppet Design/Puppet Director
Nikki Charlesworth
Nikki Charlesworth
Lighting Designer
Sam Osborne
Sam Osborne
Sound Designer & Composer
Helen Skiera
Helen Skiera
Associate Lighting Designer
Ryan Dunnett
Ryan Dunnett
Casting Director
Lucy Casson CDG
Lucy Casson CDG
Lucy is a freelance Casting Director working mostly in Theatre and Musical Theatre and more recently Film. She was a professional dancer for many years before her move into casting. After many years in London she is now based in the north of England where she has developed a wealth of knowledge of northern based talent.
Theatre credits include: Hamilton (UK & Ireland Tour); Newsies (Wembley Park Theatre); Lord of The Flies, Macbeth, I Wanna Be Yours (Leeds Playhouse); Nine Night (Leeds Playhouse & Nottingham Playgouse); As You Like It (Northern Broadsides); Clybourne Park and Gently Down The Stream (Park Theatre); Carousel (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre: as Co-Casting Director); An American in Paris (West End: as Casting Associate).
Film & TV credits include: Upgraded (Amazon Films); The Bay (ITV) and Murdered by My Father (BBC).