Daytime Deewane: Education

By Azan Ahmed

16 — 25 Oct 2025

Content Tabs

About

1997. London. Two cousins. One adventure. 

Meet cousins Farhan and Sadiq. One quiet, one wild, both looking to escape.

Set in the1990s, Daytime Deewane is a tender portrait of what it means to be torn between respect and rebellion. As the dance floor fills and the afternoon unfolds, Farhan is still clutching his school bag and how Sadiq got that Motorola flip phone is a mystery only he can solve.

Join them as they open their hearts and stomp their feet as they try to figure out how to shake off their ancestral shame and be a good Muslim boy and a proper British man – and they’ve got until 6pm to figure it out.

This exhilarating play by award-winning UK writer Azan Ahmed is a tour-de-force of theatrical storytelling. Mixing spoken word and Bhangra fused dance music to create an immersive world that pulls audiences out of their seats and into the crowd for “one more tune” and a true taste of freedom.

Students will be able to relate to the characters that must balance heritage, faith and fluctuating hormones.” – Azan Ahmed

Suitable for: Years 8 – 12 (Stage 4 – 6)
Content warning: As part of depicting the experience of British South Asians in the 1990s, at times characters in the play referred to language which is racially offensive.

EDUCATION PERFORMANCE DATES
Thursday 16 October at 7pm
Tuesday 21 October at 11am
Wednesday 22 October at 11am

ACCESSIBILTY 
Please email our Riverside Education team education_riverside@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au if you have wheelchair requirements and leave a note about all  access requirements for your group or person to ensure they are well supported during the show.

IMPORTANT VENUE INFORMATION
Get ready to be transported to be among the first to experience our electrifying new space Riverside: Live at PHIVE  in October in Parramatta Square.
Contact Riverside Theatres Box office team for more information.

Education Information

Daytime Deewane provides a unique, high-energy live performance experience for students to engage with themes woven through the NSW high school curriculum. As students watch Farhan and Sadiq navigate the complexities of self-discovery, they’ll encounter richly layered dialogue, evocative imagery and nuanced performance – deepening their understanding of identity, migration, and the power of storytelling. A full unit of work will be available for schools who book this production.

This is a theatre show like no other – poetic, vibrant, and exhilarating.

EDUCATION PERFORMANCE DATES

Thursday 16 October at 7pm
Tuesday 21 October at 11am
Wednesday 22 October at 11am

EDUCATION TICKETS & PRICING

$31 (Standard Price)
1 teacher free for every 20 students booked.


SUITABLE FOR YEARS 8 – 12 (Stage 4 – 6)

Curriculum Links and Resources
Download Daytime Deewane Curriculum

Download Daytime Deewane Education Pack

Online Education Bookings
1 teacher free for every 20 students booked.

To reserve your booking, select the ‘Education Bookings‘ button and confirm the number of tickets, prices and contact details. Please note you will not be asked to pay for your booking at this stage.

For more details about How to Book, Excursion & Accessibility For Education

Cast and Creatives

CAST
Ariyan Sharma
Ashan Kumar

CREATIVES
Playwright Azan Ahmed
Director Sepy Baghaei
Costume Designer Rita Naidu
Lighting and Set Designer BROCKMAN
Composer / Sound Designer Chrysoulla Markoulli
Production Manager Andrew D Potvin
Stage Manager Justice Georgopoulos

Reviews

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Unmissable! An exceptional, joyously buzzing piece of immersive gig theatre that sensitively articulates complex themes and deep social issues.

As the post-show schools’ chat began and questions were raised, I left the theatre grinning, exhilarated by superb performances, intricate and vibrant writing, and energised by the buoyant, pulsating beat.
But I was also delighted at the sight of so many joyful teenagers who had just quietly been educated about a little bit of brown-skinned rebellion. Tell me again how theatre for children is the easy stuff…”
Everything Theatre

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “It’s a remarkably balanced achievement to dig so deep into painful, traumatic subjects, but still have the audience leave brimming with good feeling and energy.”
Everything Theatre

“A joy to watch…. This is a fantastic piece of writing from Azan Ahmed, blending moments of comedy with complex issues and the realities of vulnerable youth.”
The Place Backstage