Sanaz Toossi's Pulitzer-winning play 'English' premieres in Sydney through May 2

Sanaz Toossi's Pulitzer Prize-winning play 'English' has its Sydney premiere at the Seymour Centre, running until May 2. Directed by Craig Baldwin, the production unfolds in a Karaj classroom where four Iranian adults prepare for their TOEFL exam under teacher Marjan, portrayed by Nicole Chamoun. The ensemble cast includes Setareh Naghoni as Elham, Minerva Khodabande as Goli, Pedram Biazar as Omid, and Neveen Hanna as Roya. Baldwin, the first Australian graduate from Juilliard School's drama program in New York City, emphasizes restraint and emotional accumulation. Soham Apte designed the functional classroom set, with lighting by Spencer Herd. The work explores identity, displacement, and linguistic imperialism through precise performances that balance humor and pathos without caricature. Chamoun's portrayal anchors the production, revealing authority masking vulnerability. The play examines what is lost when abandoning one's mother tongue for opportunity, using language as both tool and barrier. No easy resolutions are offered, with emotional weight built through small moments rather than grand epiphanies.