Additional information
by Zanib Mian (Author), Asif Khan (Adapted by)
What if the work is harder than at my last school? What if nobody wants to be my friend? What if the teacher is an alien?!
Step into the fantastically imaginative and chaotic world of Planet Omar, following the adventures of an 8-year-old with a wild imagination, a big heart, and a knack for getting into trouble. This vibrant new stage adaptation based on the beloved books by Zanib Mian has been brought to life by award-winning playwright Asif Khan. When Omar's family moves to a new neighbourhood, he faces a whirlwind of challenges: a new school, an unfriendly neighbour, and a bully who makes every day feel like a battle. But with courage, kindness, and a little help from his family and new best friend Charlie, Omar discovers his not-so-average imagination is his greatest strength. This world premiere production is a joyful and funny celebration of empathy, identity, and resilience. With dynamic storytelling, playful visuals, and a heart-warming message, Planet Omar invites audiences of all ages to laugh, reflect, and cheer for a hero who dares to dream big, even when the odds are stacked against him.Perfect for families and school groups, this adaptation is a powerful reminder that imagination can be a superpower, and that friendship and understanding can change the world. This edition was published to coincide with the Production by Leeds Playhouse, in association with the Unicorn Theatre and Birmingham Repertory Theatre in May 2026
Author Biography
Asif Khan is an award-winning writer and actor born and raised in Bradford. His debut play COMBUSTION toured the UK in 2017 and received various award nominations including, OffWestEnd's Best New Play award and Best Writer in the Stage Debut awards and wins for Best Production in The Eastern Eye Arts, Culture and Theatre Awards (2018) and The Asian Media Awards (2017). In 2018 Asif won the Channel 4 Playwright's Scheme award with RIFCO and Watford Palace where he was commissioned to write a new play. In 2019, his play IMAAM IMRAAN was produced by the National Youth Theatre, directed by Iqbal Khan, playing at the Bradford Literary Festival. In 2020 Asif was long listed for Box Of Trick's Screen/Play Award in association with Sky Studios. He is a Tamasha alumnus with whom he has developed two plays for teenagers. He was part of the BBC Comedy Room and was named on the BBC New Talent Hotlist in 2017. His five-part audio drama series THIS WEIRD NORMAL is available on various podcast platforms, produced by RADA Audio Productions. With Theatre503 Asif was one of the 19 writers commissioned for the recent ImagiNation Festival 2020.
