Indian and Chinese cultures collide in The Accountants at Aviva Studios

A poignant new production which delves into the cultural superpowers of India and China comes to Aviva Studios this May.

Created by Keith Khan and choreographed by Xie Xin and Terence Lewis, The Accountants follows 18-year-old Liam who is on a journey of discovery as he travels around the world.

Throughout his trip, Liam sends regular updates to his aunty Kash — not his real aunty — in Manchester. Kash is British Indian and Liam is mixed British and Chinese heritage, the pair often joke about which culture is better, whether it be food, landmarks or spirituality.

Liam is reckoning with his mixed heritage, cultural expectations and his next steps in life. Who and what does he want to be? An accountant like his favourite ‘aunty’ Kash?

Voiced by Josh Hart and Coronation Street’s Shobna Gulati, the audience never actually sees Liam or Kash, instead, their exchange is played out in texts and voice notes, while on stage, accountants representing China and India playfully battle it out in a high-tech stage spectacle combining data and dance.

Keith Khan is known for his large-scale cultural work which includes Notting Hill Carnival and the London 2012 Olympic Games. Terence Lewis is a celebrated judge on Dance India Dance and India’s Best Dancer, and Xie Xin is one of the most prominent figures in contemporary dance in China.

Music comes from the ARIAS-nominated sound artist Somatic and video design from award-winning Manchester art and design studio idontloveyouanymore.

The Accountants comes to Aviva Studios from Sat 4 May – Sat 11 May. Tickets are on sale now, including discounted options as part of Factory International’s affordable ticket scheme.