Zia Ahmed

Born

1978-11-01

Birthplace

Oldham, Lancashire, England

Biography

Zia Ahmed is a poet and writer hailing from North-West London. He is part of the London Laureates, having been shortlisted for London’s Young Poet Laureate 2015/16. He is a former Roundhouse Slam Champion and a Writer in Residence at Paines Plough as part of Channel 4’s Playwright Scheme 2017. In 2018 he was chosen to be a part of the Bush Theatre's Emerging Writers Group. In 2019, Zia’s stage debut I WANNA BE YOURS premiered at the Bush Theatre. Zia's latest project, PEACEOPHOBIA, was performed at venues in Manchester and Bradford in 2021. Described as "part theatre, part car-meet", the show was developed with Bradford-based performances, drawing from their experiences and love of automobiles to explore the realities of being a Muslim Man in Britain today. Zia has also written for MY WHITE BEST FRIEND, was part of the writers room for the first series of WE ARE LADY PARTS, and is currently under commission with the Royal Court and the Bush Theatre.