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A moody woman in a green hoodie stands in front of a sunset landscape

23 Oct - 2 Nov 2025

Loading Bay

Elmet

The Javaad Alipoor Company

An explosive Northern drama – created especially for Bradford 2025 by The Javaad Alipoor Company.

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Elmet is a gutsy story of family, revenge and the ultimate price of freedom – set in the wilds of the West Riding, created by Bradford-raised writer-director Javaad Alipoor, it received its world premiere at Bradford 2025.

Cathy and Danny live apart from the world with towering bare-knuckle boxer Daddy, who’s built them an idyll amid the trees on a land “made of myths”. But a great reckoning is coming, led by all-powerful local landowner Mr Price – and it threatens to smash apart everything the trio hold dear.

Javaad Alipoor’s stage adaptation of Fiona Mozley’s Booker Prize-shortlisted novel burst into life at Loading Bay with grit and guts – like an ancient tragedy reflected in shards of memory. With movement from Deb Pugh (Ad Infinitum) and new music from the BBC Folk Award-winning The Unthanks, this powerful production built to a jaw-dropping showdown finale.

Credits
Based on the novel by Fiona Mozley
Conceived and Directed by Javaad Alipoor
Commissioned by Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture

Image © Justin Sutcliffe
Centre_-LJ-Parkinson-as-Danny-and-The-Unthanks-above-in-Elmet-a-brand-new-stage-production-from-The-Javaad-Alipoor-Company
© Lee Baxter
Gabriella-Schmidt-Jennifer-Jackson-and-Tom-Varey-in-Elmet-a-brand-new-stage-production-from-The-Javaad-Alipoor-Company
© Lee Baxter
3_Left to right_ Gabriella Schmidt _as Vivian_ Jennifer Jackson _as Cathy_ and LJ Parkinson _as Danny_ in Elmet_ a brand new stage production from The Javaad Alipoor Company for Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture. Photo credit_ Lee Baxter_Lee.jpg
© Lee Baxter
ht_ Sean Jackson_ LJ Parkinson _as Danny_ Gabriella Schmidt_ Jennifer Jackson _as Cathy_ and Tom Varey in Elmet_ a brand new stage production from The Javaad Alipoor Company for Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture. Photo credit_ Lee Baxter_Lee.jpg
© Lee Baxter
on _as Danny_ and above left to right_ Becky Unthank from The Unthanks and Jennifer Jackson _as Cathy_ in Elmet_ a brand new stage production from The Javaad Alipoor Company for Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture. Photo credit_ Lee Baxter_Lee.jpg
© Lee Baxter

Cast and Creative Team

Danny
LJ Parkinson
Cathy
Jennifer Jackson
Vivian/Martha/Ensemble
Gabriella Schmidt
Price/Ewart/Ensemble
Sean Jackson
Charlie/Ensemble
Tom Varey



Conceived and Directed by
Javaad Alipoor
Composition and Music Direction
Adrian McNally and The Unthanks
with Musical Performances by
The Unthanks
Dramaturg
Laurence Cook
Dramaturg, Direction
Natalie Diddams
Movement Director
Deb Pugh
Set and Costume Design
Good Teeth
Set Design Support
Anthony Lamble
Associate Costume Designer
Sascha Gilmour
Lighting Design
Prema Mehta
Sound Design
Sam Glossop
Production Manager
Chris Firth
Assistant Director
Amber Medway
Casting Director
Nadine Rennie CDG
Stage Manager
Martin Small
Deputy Stage Manager
Maddie Whiffin
Imtimacy and Fight Director
Kaitlin Howard
Dialect Coach
Gurkiran Kaur
Trainee Movement Director
Yasamin Rashidi
Trainee Production Manager
Lee Bowman

Based on Elmet by Fiona Mozley © 2017

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