National Youth Theatre cancel controversial ISIS play

A new play exploring radicalised young Muslims joining ISIS has been cancelled by the National Youth Theatre.

Omar El-Khairy's Homegrown, which had a cast of 112 people aged between 15 and 25, was set to open at a school in Bethnal Green later this month, a statement released by the youth theatre said:

"The production of Homegrown will no longer go ahead.

"After some consideration, we have come to the conclusion that we cannot be sufficiently sure of meeting all of our aims to the standards we set and which our members and audiences have come to expect."

Creative's behind the project including director Nadia Latif and writer El-Khairy were notified of the cancellation by email and in a statement said they were "deeply shocked" their production had been cancelled.

According to an article in the Guardian, the pair believe the production was "cancelled due to external pressures, claiming both local authorities and police got involved during the development of the play."

Anyone who has purchased a ticket for the production is advised to contact the National Theatre box office for a full refund.

The National Youth Theatre announced their latest West End season in June. Highlights of which include three new productions: Consensual, a new play about sex education; an adaptation of Wuthering Heights; and an "abridged" version of The Merchant of Venice by Tom Stoppard.

A further two brand new shows – Electricity by Miriam Battye and My Beautiful City by Samuel Evans – will play as a double-bill at the Arcola