Off-Key

Side eYe bring Off-Key to the Patrick Studio at the Birmingham Hippodrome on Friday 30 October, with a few more dates following over the weekend. It's a coming-of-age drama written by Fatima Ali Omar and directed by Neetu Singh, performed by the Side eYe collective.

The story follows best friends Sabrin and Ruqqiyah at a Birmingham grammar school full of overachievers, political meltdowns and teenage delusion. While Sabrin is secretly preparing for a life-changing music audition, Ruqqiyah is busy orchestrating the fall of a problematic teacher. It's a quick-witted, sharp and deeply heartfelt look at Black girlhood, ambition, friendship and the strain on a bond when the person who knows you best becomes someone you no longer recognise.

Side eYe is an award-winning collective that stages stories by Black Muslim women and their allies. They're the team behind Dugsi Dayz (2022), which was recently adapted into the BBC Comedy Short Proper Ladies (2026), and Desperate Times (2023). They've also picked up the Edinburgh Untapped Award (2023) and the BBC Popcorn Award. This production runs for about 90 minutes, with age guidance 12+ and no under-3s admitted, and the tour is supported by Kayd Somali Arts and Culture.

There are four performances in total: Friday 30 October at 7:15pm; Saturday 31 October with a 2:00pm preview and a 7:15pm evening show; and Saturday 1 November at 7:15pm. Tickets start from £12.50.