Bijli is a company focused on creating work that encourages diversity across cultures and art forms for Scottish and UK communities, and beyond.
Founded by Writer and Producer, Mariem Omari, and Director, Umar Ahmed, their collaboration has been nationally recognised for its ground-breaking approach to the creation of Physical Verbatim Theatre, and their authentic representation of the diversity of the Scottish community.
Driven by a commitment to create work that is guided by innovation, truth, and humanity, Bijli from its inception is reaching new audiences through the creation of dynamic, socially engaged work, that has a visceral impact.
Meet the Team
Raisah Ahmed
Advisory Board Member
Raisah is a Scottish Asian Muslim Writer/Director, currently working across TV and film. She has been shortlisted for the Sundance Screenwriters Lab twice - in 2015 with Meet Me By The Water and in 2018 with Safar. She is in development with WW1, a feature Half-Moon Camp for Film 4. Her writing credits include CBeebies shows Feeling Better, Molly and Mack, and Control, a BBC The Social phone drama, and Aden’s Journey, a short drama about a refugee unaccompanied minor. Alumni of the EIFF Talent Lab 2014, Raisah had her first commissioned short, Meet Me By The Water, premiere at EIFF 2016, and directed one of BBC 3’s The Break III. She was recently a shadowing director on CBeebies Molly and Mack.
STEPHEN BARNES
Adviser and Dramaturg
Stephen is a writer, director, performer and filmmaker; whose work spans a wide range of disciplines, media and contexts. He has directed thirteen productions and authored fourteen produced plays for stage and screen. Stephen has initiated and facilitated projects focussed on empowering participants to transcend their circumstances through creativity, in the UK and South Africa - including collaborations with The Playwrights Studio, Ankur Productions and the BBC. As well supporting a variety of creative artists and organisations individually, he is also the Artistic Director of 4word Creative Arts, and the Facilitator of Write Tron For All for the Tron Theatre in Glasgow.
UZMA MIR
Advisory Board Member
Uzma is a TV Executive Producer, currently working on CBeebies family drama series Molly and Mack. She joined the BBC in 1989 as a Graduate Trainee and worked across many genres, in a wide variety of roles. From 2002 until 2006 she was an Executive Producer in BBC Scotland's Children's Department overseeing a wide slate of programmes from gameshows to drama. On leaving the BBC in 2006, she set up Turmeric Media, an independent production company specialising in factual, children's and educational television and radio. She is passionate about advancing diversity of stories, thoughts and people in media production and the arts.
MARIEM OMARI
Artistic Director and Co-founder
Mariem is a playwright, screenwriter, dramaturg and Artistic Director /Co-Founder of Bijli Productions. Her plays include If I Had A Girl…, One Mississippi and Revolution Days. Her productions are described as "political, sensitive, and compelling," often confronting societal taboos. Mariem left Australia to live in her father’s homeland in the Middle East and work as a humanitarian. This inspired her commitment to promoting stories that strengthen the voice for equality. Her next move was to her mother’s homeland, Scotland, where she has been working closely with ethnically diverse communities. She is currently developing her first feature for Young Films and BBC FILM, and is working on a documentary about the making of One Mississippi.
SIMON SHARKEY
Advisory Board Member
Simon was one of the founding directors of the National Theatre of Scotland. Over 15 years with NTS, Simon pioneered a programme of participatory and community arts across Scotland and the rest of the world. Since leaving NTS in 2018 he formed The Necessary Space which he calls a ‘Theatre of Opportunity.’ He is currently engaged in several projects across the world. Most recently he has presented as a key note speaker in several countries and contexts. He works on epic and intimate scales with site specific theatre and theatre for social change.
LEILA TALMADGE
Designer, Marketing Adviser and Project Admin
Leila is a neurodivergent designer, specialising in interiors and graphics. Her work spans various industries all with a keen interest in consistent branding with a strong aesthetic. She develops brand strategies with clear identities, ensuring all platforms use the same design language. Social media management and project management experience across multiple sectors, she can apply her organisation style easily to each task required. Born in London but based in Glasgow, and with her trusted sidekicks, Marlene and Rodney the French Bulldogs, Leila was also the Chair of the Board of Trustees to a National Children's charity for over 10 years, and is currently the Director of Autistic Knowledge Development CIC.
Our Mission
Bijli’s mission is to create productions and projects of artistic excellence that enable people to see diversity differently by exploring important social issues.
Our Vision
Our vision encompasses:
- Reaching new audiences to raise awareness of, and discussions about, social issues;
- Putting representation of diversity at the forefront;
- Supporting artistic development with diverse groups through professional and community projects; and
- Taking work created locally to international audiences via a range of media (including theatre, audio, multimedia & film).
Our Values
We are united in our commitment to create work guided by the following values:
- Representation
- Inclusion
- Community
- Passion
- Innovation
Bijli Associates
Learn more about our Associates