Aloff Theatre presents the European premiere of You’re always with me
A bittersweet romance - a pair, both lonely in their own ways find themselves drawn to each other. As they form a bond that defies convention, their relationship makes us ask whether love holds the answer to loneliness? Can we ever make love shape our lives for the better?
Afandiyev's You're Always With Me caused a stir with its thinly disguised observations on class in Soviet society when first staged in Azerbaijan in 1964.Its resonances are still as powerful and relevant today regarding its gentle examination of how love naturally takes different forms at the different stages of our lives, and the way the world seeks to impose and mould those loves. Afandiyev leaves us with the confidence that the individual will always prevail in the face of society's hypocrisy and control.
Aloff Theatre is a London-based theatre company dedicated to identifying, translating and organising the production of Eastern European and Central Asian texts for the benefit of the UK and international audiences. The company's aim is to create diverse, innovative and vibrant productions that have rarely been presented to English audiences, and act as a focus for intercultural exchange. Website: www.alofftheatre.org
Ilyas Afandiyev (1914-96) was one of the most prolific Azerbaijani playwrights, authors and critics of the Soviet period. He often approached tackled challenging subjects, and his works were aimed at members of the intelligentsia. Mr Afandiyev was an Honoured Art Worker of Azerbaijan, Laureate of the State Prize of Azerbaijan and a People’s Writer of Azerbaijan.
Founder, Creative Producer of Aloff Theatre, Sanan Aliyev was born in Azerbaijan. Following his graduation in Oriental Studies from Baku State University, he moved to London in 2009 to further his researches. Soon taking up the position as a manager at Azerbaijan House, culture centre London, he also completed his MA in International Liaison and Communication with the Diplomatic Academy of London. As a founding director of the Azerbaijan London Film Festival (ALOFF), Sanan continues to pro-actively represent Azerbaijani Culture in the UK. As the translator and producer of Mirza Fatali Akhundov's masterpiece, The Botanist Monsieur Jordan and the Sorcerer-Dervish Mastali Shah, as well as Elchin's radical farce My Favourite Madman into English, he has become recognized as a significant contributor to Anglo-Azerbaijani theatre.
Director Filiz Ozcan is a member of the World Arts Platform Artist
Advisory Group. She is currently working for Pegasus Theatre and is also one of the founding members of Komola Collective.
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