First published: 09 Mar 2008

The 2008 Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Comedy has been awarded to Rafta Rafta, which was performed at the National’s Lyttelton Theatre, and ran from 18 April to 10 November.

Ayub Khan-Din, author of East Is East, adapted the 1963 play All In Good Time by Bill Naughton to create a new version of the comical tale about a close-knit family. While the action stayed true to Naughton’s play, Khan-Din focused on an Indian family and brought in elements of Asian culture to the story. Set in the 1960’s, complete with swirly carpets and lino, the play begins directly after the wedding of the family’s eldest son. The newly weds move into the groom’s single room, which doesn’t prove the best environment to begin a marriage, and six weeks later the family begin to panic when the virgin bride remains so.

With a strong cast, the play saw the Bollywood actor Harish Patel make his London stage debut as Eeshwar Dutt, the father and head of the household, and successful comedy actress and writer Meera Syal as his wife, Lopa. The production was directed by the National’s greatly acclaimed Artistic Director Nicholas Hytner, whose previous projects include His Dark Materials, and The History Boys.

Rafta Rafta triumphs over the other nominees in this year’s category which included Absurdia: The Crimson Hotel at the Donmar Warehouse, Elling at Trafalgar Studios 1, and Whipping It Up, which was performed at the Ambassadors.

CM