afshan d’souza-lodhi was born in Dubai and forged in Manchester. She is a writer, activist, and organiser whose work spans storytelling, community-building, and systems change. As a writer of award-winning scripts and poetry, her work has been performed and translated into numerous languages across the world. She has been writer-in-residence for Sky Studios, New Writing North, Royal Exchange Theatre, Warner Bros Discovery and Bluebird Pictures, and was one of the first recipients of The National Theatre’s Peter Shaffer Award in 2022.
Her television work includes developing a series with Sky Studios, and her pilot Chop Chop was selected for the second annual #MuslimList (The Black List). Alongside her creative practice, afshan specialises in grassroots organisational systems, strategy development, and working with philanthropic organisations to deliver participatory grant-making programmes. afshan also sits on the board of Pie Radio and is the Writers Guild Great Britain Regional Chair of Manchester and Lancashire. She is a strong advocate for diverse arts and cultural spaces and continues to champion younger and emerging voices in the arts.
twitter/ instagram: @afshandl
Reading and Development roles:
Liberation Squares, Dramaturgy (Fifth Word and Nottingham Playhouse) – summer 2024
BBC Writersroom script reader – 2023
Guest Lecturer – Performance Poetics, University of Manchester – 2021 – current
Script reader, New Writing North, Northern Writers Awards – 2022 – present
Programme Manager (Literature; Theatre & Dance), British Council– 2018 – 2021
Editor In Chief, The Common Sense Network – 2017 –2021
Slate Enabler, Eclipse Theatre Company –2017- 2018
New Writing Coordinator, Commonword – 2013-2017
Deputy Director of Publishing, Dog Horn Publishing – 2011-2017
Young Enigma Co-founder – 2012 – present
Writing Residencies, Schemes and Programmes:
Bluebird Pictures Writer-In-Residence – June 2023 – October 2023
Independent Film Trust’s Creative Corridor programme – October 2022 – May 2023
BAFTA BFI FLARE mentee – March 2022 – March 2023
Warner Bros Discovery Access Writers Exchange programme – March 2022 – October 2022
Oldham Coliseum Artist-in-Residence – March 2022 – January 2023
Melbourne UNESCO City of Literature Writer-in-residence – November 2021 – February 2022
SkyWrites resident writer – (New Writing North & SkyStudios) – Jan 2021 – December 2021
Georgetown Lab fellow in Global Performance and Politics – Feb 2020 – current
BBC WritersRoom North – October 2017 – November 2018
Tamasha Playwrights Scheme October 2016 – March 2018
Assembly Women co-creator – Theatre In The Mill – March 2018
Eclipse Theatre – Writer in Residence at Royal Exchange Theatre December 2015 – 2016
Produced/In Development Screenplays (TV and Film):
‘Before I do’ (BFI Funded short film, produced by Out of the Common) – screened at BFI FLARE, Bolton Film Festival, Manchester Film Festival, London Indian Film Festival, Wicked Queer (Boston LGBT festival)
Asylum Queens (Compound Pictures) – TV Series in development
‘Batshit’ (Incentive Films) – TV series in development
‘Brood’ (Bluebird Pictures) – TV series in development
‘How To Eat Mangoes’ (Early Development funding from BFI) – Feature Film in Development
Lahori Nights (Sky Studios) – TV Series commissioned to pilot, rights in turnaround
Its My Party (PDA films; table read with Sky Studios) – TV series in development
An Act of Terror – Commissioned by Random Acts North, Produced By True North and showcased by Channel 4 Random Acts (Online)
Produced Stage and Radio plays:
Noor and Daniel – audio play with Tamasha Theatre Company – November 2025
How to Eat Mangoes – stage play Unites States, Vietnam, UK, Uganda – March 2021- November 2025
The Engagement Party – Oldham Coliseum Theatre – February 2025
Santi & Naz, Vault Festival/ Pleasance (Edinburgh)/Soho Theatre – Jan 2020-March 2025
Grills, Mirrorball Productions, Camden People’s Theatre – June 2024
Maharani of Manchester (Vignettes), Hope Mill Theatre – April 2024
A Rose By Any Other Name – Catalina of Motril, Hampton Court Palace – June – August 2023
Run(a)way, The Young Vic – February 2021
Chop Chop (radio play) – October 2019
Meatz R Uz, Tamasha (RichMix) – September 2017
Part It Part Not, Royal Exchange Theatre – September 2017
The Promised Land, Bolton Octagon; Camden People’s Theatre & SouthBank –2015 – 2016
Teacups, Royal Exchange Theatre – April 2016
Round The Fire, West Yorkshire Playhouse – June 2016
Publications:
Tell Me Who We Were Before Life Made Us, 3 Cups Press 2021 (contributor)
Not Quite Right For Us, Flipped Eye 2021 (contributor)
re: desire; Burning Eye Books 2020 (author)
Match Made In Heaven; Hope Road Publishing 2020 (contributor)
Its Not About The Burqa; Picador 2019 (Contributor)
sounds that exceed 80 decibels; Commonword 2017 (editor and contributor)
Elevator Fiction; Commonword 2016 (editor and contributor)
Spoke: New Queer Voices; Dog Horn Publishing 2015 (Contributor)
My Dear Watson: The Very Elements in Poetry; Beautiful Dragon Press 2015 (Contributor)
Awards:
DCC playwrighting prize (for mother) – longlist 2025
Alfred Bradley Bursary Award (for mother) – top 10 shortlist 2022
ILX10: Rising Stars of UK Writing – 2024
The National Theatre’s Peter Shaffer award (for stage play Chop Chop) – 2022
#MuslimList on the BlackList (for TV Pilot Chop Chop) – 2022
Jhalak Prize (for re: desire) – longlisted 2021
Asian Media Award (for Santi & Naz) – Shortlisted 2021
Vault Festival Origins Award (for Santi & Naz) – won 2020
Foyles Book of the Year (for Its Not About The Burqa) – Shortlisted 2019
Adopt a Playwright Award – Shortlisted 2018
Old Vic 12, writer – Shortlisted 2016
The Big Issue in the North – Outsider’s Award November 2011
Community History Award – Zion Arts Centre Celebrations 2010
Community Cohesion Award – V Inspired November 2009
The Search Party – Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester March 2009
My Voice – Reading Agency November 2009