THE Octagon’s production of the popular British comedy East is East has audiences in laughter and tears – often both at the same time.

Ayub Khan Din's Oliver award-winning play returns to the theatre under the direction of Ben Occhipinti, who captures — to great effect — perfectly the balance of laughs and heartbreak of this play to create a wonderfully enjoyable and moving production.

Bolton actor Ian Aspinall shares memories of film East is East as Octagon stages classic story

Set in 1970s Salford, East is East is about the lives of seven mixed-raced children, born to an English mum and first-generation immigrant father from Pakistan.

What follows is a comic yet powerful story about culture clashes, identity, loss and belonging, themes which still resonate today.

Much loved actor Kulvinder Ghir returns to the Octagon to play George, the controlling father and also a proud Pakistani, who would rather his children follow the culture, traditions and religion he followed when growing up – and not be influenced by those of the new world he has moved to.

Ghir expertly portrays his character’s fear of losing his identity as a Pakistani and as the patriarch of the family – and the resulting shocking consequences, not least that he is able to disown his eldest son because he fled an arranged marriage, to set up a new life in Eccles.

Jane Hazlegrove's passionate depiction of mum Ella anchors this production. Thanks to her natural interaction with her ‘children’ it is easy to forget the people on stage are not actually a family. It was certainly not surprising when she won a spontaneous, and much deserving, round of applause mid-play.

The Khan clan’s sibling rivalries give rise to many of the lighter parts of the play but also the powerful moments as each one is given the space to develop their character, reflecting how being caught between East and West impacts on them as individuals.

Claire Hackett is simply hilarious as Auntie Annie, with spot-on comic timing throughout, particularly when guests visit the Khans.

The strength of the play undoubtedly lies in its direction, the ability of Occhipinti to mix high drama with moments of comedy.

The play might be set in an era so far removed from today, but the themes are still as powerful if not more so today.

The play runs until April 14