The Bell

The Bell - seen at INK Festival 2026… Currently in development

We are delighted that the acclaimed playwright Lucy Kirkwood will be assisting Joe McNamara in this exciting project.

The Bell

“But…I’d never not want you anywhere.”

Shahara is British-Bangladeshi and Tower Hamlets born and bred - but a new job sees her out in leafy Epping, Essex. On her dinner break, she meets local boy Alex. Despite growing up less than 15 miles apart, they seem to be from different worlds. But somewhere between Muslim dating apps and roast dinners, a connection seems to be forming...

But just down the road, a scandal is brewing in a migrant hotel. The unrest is spreading. Can this newfound friendship survive?

The Bell is a play about love, friendship and connection in the face of rising anti-immigrant sentiment in this country. A touching portrayal of just what it is we have to offer each other…and exactly what we stand to lose.