British writer, artist, film programmer, and activist
Iman Qureshi is a London-based writer, awarded the PAPAtango prize for new writing for her play 'The Funeral Director' in 2018. Her work explores themes of race, gender, and sexuality, and she has spoken openly about her identity as a Muslim and her desire to create community and political change through her work.
Career.
Qureshi worked for the homelessness charity Shelter before her writing career was established. In 2018, PAPAtango collaborated with the English Touring Theatre to co-produce Qureshi's prize-winning play 'The Funeral Director', with a premier in London at the Southwark Playhouse, followed by performances in Edinburgh, Manchester, Nottingham and Oxford. This was the first time that PAPAtango had co-produced a play.
In 2019, 'My White Best Friend' series at the Bunker Theatre, curated by Rachel De-Lahay and Milli Bhatia, featured a monologue written by Qureshi.
Qureshi was commissioned by Tamasha and Titi Dawudu to write two monologues for 'Hear me now', published by Oberon books.
Qureshi wrote a short play, "Birthday Begum", as writer in residence at Mulberry School for Girls, funded by Tamasha's 'Re Fuel' project, with performances at Rich Mix and Theatre Royal Stratford East.
Qureshi has written comment pieces for the "Huffington Post", "Guardian", and "Independent."
Accolades.
Qureshi's play 'The Funeral Director' was shortlisted for Soho Theatre's Tony Craze Award in 2017, before winning the PAPAtango Prize in 2018. The play was selected top of 1,384 entries.
Qureshi was one of the Soho Six playwrights for 2019 at the Soho Theatre, London, and she was selected for the Genesis Almeida New Playwrights Big Plays programme in 2019/2020.
Qureshi's short film, 'Home Girl', directed by Poonam Brah, was featured in the Film London 'London Calling' film festival, and the 2019 BFI Flare Festival.
Film.
'Home Girl' (directed by Poonam Brah, 2018).
Personal life.
Qureshi was born in Pakistan before moving to Saudi Arabia as a child, and then to London in 2003. She studied for a law degree and for an MSc in Postcolonial Literature.
References.
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