CAMDENWALLA Writer Jonny Khan on Community, Memory and Resistance

Ahead of CAMDENWALLA: 60 Hampstead Rd at Camden People’s Theatre, writer-director Jonny Khan talks about uncovering the history of the Camden Monitoring Project and its work supporting Camden’s Bangladeshi community, exploring intergenerational relationships within migrant communities, and creating a play rooted in solidarity, resilience and collective care.

What can audiences expect from CAMDENWALLA: 60 Hampstead Rd, and what first inspired you to tell this story?

Audiences can expect a fast-moving and heartfelt story about family, community and resistance. The play follows Muhammad, a first-generation Bangladeshi immigrant working at the Camden Monitoring Project, and Alima, a young British-Bangladeshi girl trying to make sense of the world around her. Together, they navigate a moment when their community is under extreme pressure and are forced to ask what it really means to protect one another.

I was first inspired by the building itself. When I started researching what stood here before Camden People's Theatre, I discovered the incredible history of the Camden Monitoring Project and knew there was a powerful story to tell.

The play is based around the real-life Camden Monitoring Project. For people unfamiliar with that history, can you explain what the organisation did and why it mattered?

The Camden Monitoring Project was set up to support people experiencing racism, housing problems and other forms of injustice. At a time when many people felt ignored by the police and local authorities, the CMP offered practical help, legal advice and, just as importantly, a place where people felt listened to.

It mattered because it showed the power of community. When official systems weren’t doing enough, ordinary people stepped in and created something that made a real difference.

The relationship between Muhammad and Alima sits at the heart of the production. What interested you about bringing those two generations together?

I was interested in how different generations understand the same history in very different ways. Muhammad has spent years trying to work within the system and believes change is possible. Alima is younger and believes in a more immediate form of resistance.

Their relationship explores the tensions and misunderstandings that can exist between generations, but also the deep love and care that sits underneath those differences.

The production explores some heavy themes, including racism and violence, but it also sounds deeply rooted in community and resilience. How would you describe the emotional journey of the play?

The play deals with difficult realities, but it is ultimately a story about hope. It shows the fear and frustration that people were living with, but also the humour, warmth and solidarity that helped them keep going.

I hope audiences are moved by the challenges the characters face, but also inspired by the way they come together and support one another.

How important is the local setting to the story you’re telling?

The local setting is absolutely central. This is a story about Camden, made in Camden, and performed in the very building where much of this history took place.

That gives the play a strong sense of place and connection. It reminds us that extraordinary stories can happen right on our doorstep.

The play has been developed through conversations with members of Camden’s Bangladeshi community. How collaborative was that process?

The process has been hugely collaborative. I spoke to members of the Bangladeshi community, looked through archive material and listened to stories from people who lived through this period.

Those conversations shaped the play in profound ways. While the story is fictional, it is grounded in the voices, memories and experiences of the community.

What conversations are you hoping audiences will leave the theatre having after seeing CAMDENWALLA: 60 Hampstead Rd?

I hope audiences leave talking about the hidden histories that exist all around us and the people whose work often goes unrecognised.

I also hope the play sparks conversations about what community really means and how ordinary people can support each other when institutions fall short. Above all, I hope people leave feeling inspired by the power of collective action and care.

CAMDENWALLA will run at Camden People’s Theatre from 17 June – 4 July. Tickets available HERE.