At EastHands, we believe theatre has the power to inspire, challenge and bring people together.
Through original productions, community participation and creative storytelling, we use the performing arts to celebrate East London's rich cultural diversity while giving voice to stories that are often overlooked.
Although EastHands is a relatively young charity, our creative team brings together more than 30 years of professional experience in theatre, playwriting, production and cultural leadership. Before joining EastHands, our artists and producers worked with a range of organisations, local authority programmes, universities and community theatre companies across the UK. Today, they bring that wealth of knowledge and experience to every EastHands production.
Our leadership team has written, produced and supported a wide range of original theatre productions exploring themes including migration, identity, family, social justice, race, belonging and community history. These productions have been performed in theatres, universities and community venues throughout the United Kingdom, engaging thousands of audience members and creating opportunities for local people to participate in the arts.
Our work demonstrates how theatre can preserve cultural heritage, encourage dialogue and inspire positive social change.
Saiyem Chowdhury is an award-winning British Bangladeshi playwright, journalist and oral history practitioner with over twenty years of experience in theatre and community arts.
Since 2008, Saiyem has written original plays for A Season of Bangla Drama, an annual theatre programme supported by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. His productions include:
These productions explore the lives and experiences of British Bangladeshi communities, tackling issues such as migration, multiculturalism, identity, family relationships and social justice.
More recently, Saiyem adapted The Open University's Amar Bari (My House) research project into an original stage production performed at the Brady Arts Centre in 2025, transforming community research and oral histories into powerful live theatre.
Nobab Uddin is a playwright, published author, community leader and Executive Producer with extensive experience in theatre, governance and strategic leadership.
Over many years, Nobab has written and produced original plays including:
His work has been performed at respected venues including Queen Elizabeth Hall (Oldham), Birmingham University, the University of London, Camden Town Hall and numerous community theatres across the UK.
His acclaimed play Saira received national recognition through coverage in The Guardian, reflecting its artistic quality and social relevance.
Alongside his creative work, Nobab brings extensive experience managing complex programmes and leading organisations, ensuring EastHands combines artistic ambition with strong governance and professional project delivery.
The experience of EastHands extends far beyond the projects delivered under our own name. Our team members have developed their skills over decades, working on theatre productions, festivals, community arts programmes and cultural initiatives under different organisations before bringing their expertise together at EastHands.
This collective experience allows us to develop original productions, manage complex creative projects and work collaboratively with communities, artists, researchers and cultural partners. Every project benefits from the knowledge, creativity and professionalism of a team that has spent many years using theatre to educate, entertain and strengthen communities.
Alongside theatre productions, EastHands delivers music performances, dance events, literary festivals, heritage projects, creative workshops, cultural celebrations and community engagement programmes across East London.
Supported by organisations including Tower Hamlets Council, the National Lottery Community Fund, BBC Children in Need, City Bridge Foundation, Sport England and the NHS, our work combines creativity with community development, ensuring that arts and culture remain accessible to everyone.
As EastHands continues to grow, we remain committed to producing high-quality theatre that reflects contemporary Britain, celebrates diverse voices and creates opportunities for people of all ages to participate in the performing arts.
By combining professional artistic practice with deep community roots, we continue to create theatre that informs, inspires and connects people across generations and cultures.