The Real Ones

Best friends Zaid and Neelam shared a dream: get away, make it as writers, build a future where they're free to be themselves. Together, always. Years later, things are far from what they expected. Zaid's life has kinda stalled – he's half out the closet, living at home and still chasing the dream. While Neelam's has taken a completely different path as she chooses to prioritise her own happiness. As their lives pull further apart, leaving a mess of unsaid things between them, it's going to take something real to bring them back together. Waleed Akhtar's play The Real Ones is a funny and honest love letter to platonic soulmates. It was first performed at the Bush Theatre, London, in 2024, directed by Anthony Simpson-Pike, and starring Nathaniel Curtis and Mariam Haque. 'Cements Akhtar's standing as a fearless writer with oodles of talent and bravura who can navigate plot with feeling... the script has a pull and charisma that makes you want to keep on watching' Guardian'Intelligent and touching... effervescent warmth and sequin-bright wit... tender and heartfelt... peppered with sharp-clawed one-liners on race and sexuality' Telegraph'Beautifully observed... where Akhtar really nails it is in perfectly capturing the special kind of love between a gay man and his female best friend - and the peculiar sadness of losing that love when life gets in the way' Time Out'Akhtar again reveals a remarkable ability gently to burrow towards the heart of difficult conversations... The writing probes the complexities of race and class... fascinating' WhatsOnStage'Akhtar has such a gift for naturalistic, colloquial and relatable dialogue... The script dances along... The comedy is crucially character-driven... the play's themes are truly universal' LondonTheatre1'A slow-burning tale that is as full of humour, melodrama and passionate relationship moments as real life... captivating to watch' Reviews Hub'A sharply observed look into whether platonic love can last... Akhtar writes accurately and perceptively about the friendships gay men have with women, with uncanny realism and laugh-out-loud humour. The Real Ones is a warm and thought-provoking story of platonic love and coming of age, both specific and universal... an impactful, relatable play from a very exciting writer' Broadway World