Off-Key

Side eYe bring Off-Key to The Weston Studio at Bristol Old Vic on Friday 6 November and Saturday 7 November. It's a coming-of-age drama set in a Birmingham grammar school, and it follows two best friends, Sabrin and Ruqqiyah, who are both keeping big secrets from each other. Sabrin is preparing for a music audition, while Ruqqiyah is plotting the takedown of a problematic teacher. It's a story of Black girlhood, ambition and friendship, and of what happens when the person who knows you best becomes someone you no longer recognise.

Off-Key is written by Fatima Ali Omar and directed by Neetu Singh. It's the latest from Side eYe, the award-winning British theatre collective behind Dugsi Dayz (2022) — which was adapted into the BBC comedy short Proper Ladies (2026) — and Desperate Times (2023). The company describes its work as sharing underrepresented stories and tackling the lack of roles for Somali and Muslim women in the industry. The play itself picked up the Edinburgh Untapped Award in 2023, and Dugsi Dayz won the BBC Popcorn Award.

The Bristol run is part of Side eYe's 2026/27 season and is supported by Kayd Somali Arts and Culture. There are three performances in total: Friday 6 November at 8:00pm, and Saturday 7 November with a 3:00pm matinee and an 8:00pm evening show. Tickets start from £15, which includes a £1 booking fee; members and ticket subscribers are exempt from that fee. Groups of eight or more save 15%.