Aisha Zia

Aisha Zia is an award-winning playwright from Peterborough, former resident artist at Somerset House Studios in London and Theatre 503’s 503Five alumni. She has toured site-specific plays across the UK having had huge success with her plays No Guts, No Heart, No Glory (Winner of Scotsman Fringe First award, shortlisted for the Amnesty International Freedom of Expression award) and Our Glass House (made the Special Commendation in the Amnesty International Freedom of Expression award) with Common Wealth Theatre.

Aisha’s work engages young and diverse participants across the UK. Her work is dedicated to non-theatre audiences and she has a strong proven track record of working in communities to deliver high-quality artistic work, using her unique approach to testimonial theatre. She is interested in real people and real stories that impact our lives today. Her work with Good Chance Theatre led her to set up a new art gallery and social platform in Peterborough, showcasing the work of British Muslim artists, to explore the themes of a new piece of work she will be presenting at the HighTide Festival in 2021.

Currently under commission from Contact Theatre in Manchester, Aisha is also developing new work with Fuel in London and Ripe Time in New York. As well as conceiving original ideas for theatre, film and TV, Aisha also works as a freelance photo editor for the Financial Times and the New Statesman, having previously worked for the Independent and Reuters.