- Duration: 2hrs 10mins
- Tickets: Standard £18 | Pay more £24 | Pay even more £30 | Pay less £12 Preview £12
- Company: The Old Fire Station
- Ages: 12+
- Extras: Panel Discussion 16 Dec | Post show Q&A 12 & 20 Dec (matinee performance only) | Alcohol Free evening 10 & 16
- Details
- Gallery
- Parking & Access
Details
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90s Christmas Nostalgia, Cowley Woolworths & the infamous Pick’n’mix!
The Old Fire Station is proud to present: A World Premiere in Oxford this Christmas – Before the Millennium by Karim Khan
ملینیم سے پہلے
ایوارڈ یافتہ مقامی ڈرامہ نگار
کریم خان کا ڈرامہ
As the final days of 1999 draw near, Pakistani migrants Zoya and Iqra work side by side in Woolworth’s Oxford Cowley branch – anxious and excited for what’s to come in the new millennium. At their Christmas staff party, the pair encounter a mysterious new girl – Faiza – who threatens to alter everything they thought they knew about their friendship and their future.
Magical, tender and quietly radical, Before the Millennium is a lyrical new play from award-winning playwright Karim Khan – charting the joys of a life-changing friendship, the icy bitterness of homesickness and the sacrifice of migration.
Meet the Cast & Creative Team
Writer: Karim Khan
Karim Khan is a playwright and screenwriter based in Oxford. His sell-out show Brown Boys Swim won both the Fringe First and Popcorn Award at the Edinburgh Fringe 2022, before transferring to Soho Theatre and touring nationally. His play Sweetmeats will premiere at the Bush Theatre in 2026 in a co-production with Tara Theatre.
Karim has written for the Royal Court Theatre, National Theatre, and Soho Theatre, and for television series such as All Creatures Great and Small. He is currently directing his debut short film with Amazon Prime and the National Film and Television School. Find out more
Director: Adam Karim
Adam’s JMK Award-winning production of Guards at the Taj (Orange Tree Theatre) was nominated for a Stage Debut Award and won the Eastern Eye Best Director Award in 2025. He was previously Resident Director at the National Theatre Studio and Resident Assistant Director at the Donmar Warehouse.
Directing credits include: Julius Caesar (RADA), Macbeth (LAMDA), MANTELPEACE (Young Vic), and Platform (East15).Find out more
Gurjot Dhaliwal as Zoya
Gurjot trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Stage credits include Our White Skoda Octavia, Shewolves, and Asian Girls in Therapy. Screen credits include Sweetpea (Sky Atlantic), Mr Bigstuff (Sky), and Extraordinary (Disney+).Find out more
Prabhleen Oberoi as Iqra
Prabhleen is a London-based actress, dancer, and award-winning choreographer. A graduate of the Oxford School of Drama, her credits include EastEnders, Netflix projects, and choreography for Strictly Come Dancing. She champions brown artistry and stories that celebrate shared humanity.Find out more
Hannah Khalique-Brown as Faiza
Hannah stars as Saara Parvin in Channel 4/Peacock’s The Undeclared War opposite Simon Pegg, and has appeared in Wolf Hall (BBC), Black Doves (Netflix), Virdee (BBC1), and HBO’s Dune Prophecy. On film, she appeared in Barbie opposite Margot Robbie and on stage in The Secret Garden (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre).Find out more
Costume Designer and Set Design Consultant – Maariyah Sharjil
Lighting Designer – Holly Ellis
Composer and Sound Designer – XANA
Movement Director – Rakhee Sharma
Dramaturg – Gurnesha Bola
Dialect Coach – Gurkiran Kaur
Producer – Jessie Anand
Production Manager – Thomas Quine
Stage Manager – Theodor Spiridon
Rehearsal Stage Manager – Olivia Wolfenden
Technical Manager – Dan Knight
Post Show Q&A
Join the creative team for a post-show Q&A after performances on 12 and 20 December (matinee performance only). These sessions are free to attend and included in your ticket price.
Panel Discussion
There will be a post-show panel discussion on 16 December hosted by Priya Atwal. Panellists include Sadiya Ahmed, Shaista Aziz and Yasmin Khan. Free to attend and included in your ticket price. Find out more
Treat Yourself!
Enjoy delicious treats from Oxford, Pakistan, and the Middle East, made with love by Damascus Rose Kitchen and the OFS Café. Plus, pick’n’mix for the show!
Prayer Space
Prayer spaces are available throughout the show. Please ask a member of the OFS team to direct you.
Including Everyone
All daytime performances are alcohol-free, as well as the evening performances on 10 and 16 December. A sensory box and audio loop are available. Please get in touch if you would like to arrange a touch tour before the show.
Grab a Copy
Copies of Karim’s play will be available to buy for £10.99 – the perfect gift this Christmas! Purchase yours on the night.
Parking & Access
Parking
There are a number of Blue Badge parking spaces nearby on Beaumont Street, and more on New Inn Hall Street and St Giles.
The closest car park is Gloucester Green Car Park, accessed via Gloucester Street.
If you have any questions or concerns, the City Council’s Access Officer can be reached at 01865 249811.
Getting here
We are committed to reducing our carbon footprint, but we need your help. Use ecoway, our sustainable travel planner, to see the most eco-friendly options for your journey to Old Fire Station, and plan a bespoke and flexible route. ecoway is easy to use and you’ll be kept up to date with any disruption or changes to your journey plan.
Car parks in Oxford Blue Badge information Public transport in OxfordAccess
Disabled patrons are eligible for one free companion ticket with their booking. To book this, contact the ticket office: tickets@oldfirestation.org.uk or 01865 263990.
There are two entrances to the Old Fire Station: 40 George Street via the foyer, and on Gloucester Green via the shop. Both are step-free. If you are coming to a show, we ask that you use the George Street entrance, as the Gloucester Green entrance is not always open.
Events in the Theatre
There is level entry to the foyer of the Old Fire Station, and step-free access to the main Theatre (where most shows take place).
If you are a wheelchair user attending a sit-down show, space will be reserved for you. If you are attending a standing gig, please contact us (call the ticket office on 01865 263990 or e-mail tickets@oldfirestation.org.uk) and we will talk with you about your needs.
Events in the Studio
There is level entry into the foyer of the Old Fire Station, and step-free access to the Studio.
Events in the Loft
There are six steps leading up to the Loft space, with no lift. If you would like to discuss this to find out more, please get in touch.
The Gallery
There is step-free access to the Gallery – level entry through the George Street entrance, and via lift from the Gloucester Green entrance.
Facilities
Accessible toilet
There is an accessible toilet on the ground floor, accessible via platform lift. Other toilets are in the basement (accessible via lift).
Hearing assistance system
The Theatre is equipped with a hearing assistance system. If you have any questions about using it, please e-mail us at tickets@oldfirestation.org.uk or phone 01865 263980.
Assistance dogs
All types of assistance and guide dogs are welcome at the Old Fire Station. It would be great if you could let us know in advance if you will be bringing a working dog to any performances – just e-mail tickets@oldfirestation.org.uk.
Strobe lighting
We will warn visitors on the website and in the foyer of the venue if a performance is going to contain strobe lighting. If lighting affects you, and you have any concerns, please call the ticket office on 01865 263990 or e-mail tickets@oldfirestation.org.uk.
Chairs in the theatre
Our chairs are a standard dining-chair size, measuring 40cm deep by 37cm wide, with a metal frame. Some have arms, and some do not. They are all joined together at the sides, to form rows. If this is likely to pose a problem for you, please email tickets@oldfirestation.org.uk and we can discuss how to make your visit more comfortable.