Paine's Plough invited three Pakistani playwrights to give their unique view of contemporary life. Two are based in Pakistan, one is based in London. The result is a surprising and unsettling kaleidoscope of urgent new work inspired by contemporary events. The plays will be presented at Soho Theatre's Studio from Monday 9 until Wednesday 11 July at 9.45pm as readings directed by Roxana Silbert and George Perrin and featuring Salman Shahid as Abdullah.

Abdullah by Salman Shahid is a potent and comic exploration of the delicate balance between the wealthy and their servants in a changing political and religious landscape. Salman Shahid is a Pakistani actor and playwright based in Pakistan. Most recently he appeared in the Bollywood film Kabul Express.

Freedom Pass by Anita Mir is an explosive and sensitive play about race, identity and the BNP. Anita Mir was an investigative journalist for Pakistan's daily newspaper The Frontier Post. She is now studying in the UK.

Glad Tidings by Bilal Hasan Minto is a taut and heartbreaking vision of one woman's desperate bid to escape. Bilal Hasan Minto is a well known lawyer and film-maker. He teaches at the University at Lahore and is an advocate of the High Courts and the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

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