Seymour Centre and Outhouse Theatre Co present the Sydney premiere of Sanaz Toossi’s Pulitzer prize-winning play, ENGLISH, in the Reginald Theatre from 9 April – 2 May 2026.
Set in an English-language classroom in Karaj, Iran, ENGLISH follows four adult students who seek to unlock new opportunities by learning English. Over six weeks, their accents, insecurities, ambitions, and loyalties collide – revealing how language can both open doors and sever ties.
Winner of the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, ENGLISH has been celebrated internationally for its warmth, humour and emotional precision. Outhouse Theatre Co’s production brings this remarkable work into an intimate theatrical setting, placing audiences inside a classroom where every word carries weight, and every silence reveals something deeper.
“We love plays that feel intimate but expansive in their ideas, and ENGLISH does that beautifully. So often migrant narratives are framed as volatile political statements. With ENGLISH, Sanaz does something quietly rebellious – she strips away the rhetoric and shows us people, not politics,” said Outhouse Theatre Co Artistic Director and ENGLISH producer Jeremy Waters.
Directed by Craig Baldwin (Richard II Off-Broadway with Michael Urie, Outhouse’s Consent and Heroes of the Fourth Turning), the cast features Minerva Khodabande (NIDA’s The Royal Experiment, King Lear, NINE) Nicole Chamoun (SBS’s Safe Harbour, ABC’s Troppo), Setareh Naghoni (Paramount’s Last King of the Cross), Neveen Hanna (ABC’s House of Gods), and Pedram Biazar (Netflix’s The Correspondent), with music by acclaimed Persian-Australian composer Hamed Sadeghi (Eishan Ensemble).
Funny, intimate, and moving, ENGLISH resonates powerfully in a city shaped by migration, cultural exchange, and the search for belonging. Both playful and profoundly moving, ENGLISH invites audiences to reflect on language not just as a tool for communication, but as a mirror of who we are.
As Outhouse Theatre Co celebrates its 20th year, the company continues its commitment to presenting bold, contemporary productions that connect global stories with local audiences.
Director: Craig Baldwin | Featuring: Minerva Khodabande, Nicole Chamou, Setareh Naghoni, Neveen Hanna, Pedram Biazar | Cultural Consultant: Madjid Alaei | Set Designer: Soham Apte | Costume Design: Rita Naidu | Lighting Designer: Spencer Herd | Assistant Director: Sarah Nader | Music composition: Hamed Sadeghi | Dialect Coach: Linda Nicholls- Gidley | Production Manager: Izzy Morrissey | Stage Manager: Justice Georgopoulos | Producer: Jeremy Waters | Writer: Sanaz Toossi
ENGLISH
Reginald Theatre – Seymour Centre, Corner City Road and Cleveland Street, Chippendale (Sydney)
Season: 11 April – 2 May 2026 (previews: 9 – 11 April)
Information and Bookings: www.seymourcentre.com
Image: Seymour Centre and Outhouse Theatre Co presents ENGLISH – photo by Christina Mishell