Zak Zarafshan
Film, TV & Theatre
Zak Zarafshan is a British-Iranian playwright and screenwriter from the East Midlands, based in London. He is part of the BBC Writers Pilot Scheme 2024/2025, developing an original drama for Company Pictures/BBC, and under commission to Sheffield Theatres.
His debut play THE BOYS ARE KISSING was developed as part of Theatre503’s Writers In Residence scheme, the 503Five, and opened in January 2023 to a sell-out run and critical acclaim, earning 4-star reviews in The Guardian, The Stage and WhatsOnStage and nominations for Best Writer at The Stage Debut Awards, Most Promising New Playwright at The Off West End Theatre Awards, and Best Writing at the London Pub Theatre Awards. The play is currently being licensed for multiple productions overseas.
He was previously a part of the Soho Theatre Writers Lab, Tamasha Playwrights Group, and shortlisted for Channel 4’s 4Stories scheme. Alongside writing, he has worked in television drama since 2019, most recently script editing an original 6 X 60' Crime Thriller that aired in 2024.
Zak is published by Methuen Drama
Theatre
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Theatre503 | Dir. Lisa Spirling |
THE BOYS ARE KISSING - Theatre503
★ ★ ★ ★ (Arifa Akbar, The Guardian) “Zarafshan has bold talent and this debut is an exciting discovery.”
★ ★ ★ ★ (Nikita Karia, The Stage) “Zarafshan’s writing feels fresh and intelligent. He is an emerging talent whom we can expect to excel.”
★ ★ ★ ★ (Alun Hood, WhatsOnStage) “Zarafshan's unfettered imagination and zestful gift for comic dialogue rooted in truth, are surely something to celebrate. It's thought-provoking and eventually rather touching, but most of all, it's great fun.”
★ ★ ★ ★ (Benedetta Mancusi, The Upcoming) “The Boys Are Kissing is a fantastic debut. Tender moments followed by sexy moves and hilarious outbursts, leave the viewer with something to take home with them.”
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ (Nilgin Yusuf, London Pub Theatres) “A wickedly entertaining debut that manages to discuss gender, identity, tolerance and inclusion with wry observation, intelligence and wit.”
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ (Gerrard Martin, Afridiziak) “Razor-sharp wit and pathos… ‘The Boys Are Kissing’ is a must-see!”