A Teaspoon of Shampoo

Written and Directed by Dr. Shabina Aslam

Welcome to Theatre in the Mill's in-house production, A Teaspoon of Shampoo.

And Bradford wonders late at night
Was he wrong, or was he right?
Was he a saviour, thief or just a man?
From Old Lahore, dear sweet Lahore

Inspired by true events, Teaspoon of Shampoo unravels the fascinating story of a doctor exposed as a fraud after 30 years of practice. With no definitive answers about his motivations, the play invites you to explore a web of questions: Was he a man driven by a desire to do good, or were his actions fuelled by greed? Are the lines between right and wrong ever truly clear?Set against the backdrop of 30 years of British history, Teaspoon of Shampoo weaves through significant events such as the founding of the NHS, the Partition of India, and the migration that has shaped modern Britain. These cultural and historical milestones enrich this gripping tale, casting light on the interplay between personal ambition and the forces of social change.Teaspoon of Shampoo examines morality, identity, and belonging with a fresh and thought-provoking lens. This production questions how the echoes of the past continue to shape the present.

A Teaspoon of Shampoo contains swearing, racism, use of a racial slur, haze, and flashing lights. We advise that this production is suitable for children 12+.

A note from writer & director Dr. Shabina Aslam

I'm very proud to present A Teaspoon of Shampoo at Theatre in the Mill. My mum told me the story of a fake doctor in Bradford, during lockdown, she refused to fill in the details, saying 'we do not talk ill of the dead'! Mum is no longer with us, and I hope she approves of our interpretation of this fascinating story.Developing the story into a play would not have been possible without the commitment of the TiM Team: Ayza, Claire and Lukas. It's been a rollercoaster of learning and making new friends, many of whom are named in the credits. This is the first in-house production of a new play to have been made at TiM and the team have embraced the challenge with patience, imagination and passion.Finally I want to thank a superb cast: Harveen, Umar, Sushil, Naina and Samara, who have shaped the production through a complete engagement with the work as have the Creative Team. It's been a joy putting the text on its feet with the help of Kevin's gorgeous design, Alice's vocals, Mike's movement, Gus's 'sting' and Gilank of course for underscoring the whole thing with such panache. Theatre is a genuinely collaborative affair and I think this production of A Teaspoon of Shampoo is a celebration of that as well as an opportunity to reflect on the nature of forgiveness.A Teaspoon of Shampoo is a political satire that mixes true crime, migration, and identity into a surreal theatrical investigation. Set up like a live podcast, it follows the case of Dr. Saad, a bogus Pakistani doctor who worked undetected in Bradford for decades. Through Greek Chorus interventions, multimedia and dark humour the play explores colonial legacies, systemic failures in the NHS, and the contradictions of immigrant survival -all the while questioning whether Dr. Saad was a fraudster, folk hero, or just another cog in a broken system. That's for you to decide.