Dr Ranj Singh announced as producer of 'The P Word', which charts the parallel lives of two gay Pakistani men

Dr Ranj Singh has been announced as a producer of**The P Word** , Waleed Akhtar ’s Olivier Award ‑winning play, as the production prepares to return to Bush Theatre later this month.

The acclaimed drama, which won the Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre in 2023, runs from 28 May - 27 June , and reunites the original cast of Akhtar and Esh Alladi.

As rehearsals begin, Dr Ranj - the doctor, broadcaster, author and musical theatre performer - visited the cast, marking his involvement in the production alongside Emmy‑winning television personality Tan France.

Written by Akhtar, The P Word charts the parallel lives of two gay Pakistani men navigating love, identity and the UK’s increasingly hostile environment towards migrants. It follows Zafar, who flees homophobic persecution in Pakistan to seek asylum in Britain, and Bilal - who styles himself as “Billy” - a Londoner worn down by dating apps and the complexity of being a brown gay man.

l-r Esh Alladi, Dr Ranj Singh, Waleed Akhtar and Director Anthony Simpson-Pike. Photo Bettina Adela

Speaking about his involvement, Dr Ranj said he was “incredibly proud” to support the production, describing it as “a powerful and timely piece that brings vital, and long overdue, conversations to the forefront”.

“This is a story that feels deeply personal and universally relevant,” he said. “For me, it’s about championing South Asian and queer voices in theatre, backing bold new writing, and encouraging audiences to engage with live theatre that truly challenges stigma. For queer, South Asian people, this play has been a long time coming.”

Following its original run, The P Word broke box office records at the Bush Theatre and was praised by critics, with Time Out calling it “tremendous” and The Guardian describing it as “irresistible”, while the Financial Times hailed it as “immensely moving”.