A lively family show will bring the Planet Omar children’s book series to the stage for the first time. The production opens with Omar, an eight-year-old British-Pakistani Muslim boy, whose active imagination frequently creates unexpected adventures. After his family relocates to a new area, Omar faces the difficulties of a different school, an unfriendly neighbor and a school bully. Support arrives from his relatives, his close friend Charlie and a surprising dragon companion. They help him realize that his creativity is a valuable asset rather than a flaw. The cast features Justin Kendal-Sadiq as Omar and Izzy Coward as Charlie, with additional performers including Mustafa Chaudhry, Emaan Durrani, Joanna Holden and Zoe Iqbal. The adaptation offers a bright, inventive journey that includes oversized props such as a giant cheese and walking food items, along with dreams that appear onstage. Producers call the show an engaging family piece that blends humor, warmth and puppetry while addressing empathy, community and resilience. The script draws from Zanib Mian’s popular books and was written for the theater by Asif Khan, with direction by Sameena Hussain. Early reviews have been positive. The world premiere is a co-production involving Leeds Playhouse, Unicorn Theatre and Birmingham Repertory Theatre. By centering a British-Pakistani Muslim child, the project extends the books’ effort to increase representation in children’s entertainment. The run begins at the Birmingham Rep on June 18 and continues through June 21, 2026.
