21 September 2026

to

24 October 2026

Running time 

TBC

Rated 

for all ages

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a co-production with CHICHESTER FESTIVAL THEATRE

by STEPHANIE STREET
directed by DIYAN ZORA and ELIN SCHOFIELD
starring PRIYANGA BURFORD

The current lifespan of an operator is six weeks. That’s the most we can hope for your time out there.

October 1943. In a small office on the Avenue Foch in Paris, a Gestapo interrogator is questioning a young woman who has been known by many different names: Babuli,  Jeanne-Marie, Nora, Madeleine.

As one of the secret agents of Britain’s Special Operations Executive – and the first female radio operator to be sent undercover into France – she has evaded capture far longer than most. But now she has been betrayed.

As she faces the fate she has dreaded so long, memories crowd in – a beloved father, a thwarted lover, a gruelling journey to war, and an endless longing for her childhood piano. What has led her here?

a small and quiet light is based on the life of Noor-un-Nisa Inayat Khan (1914-1944), an extraordinarily courageous woman who paid the ultimate price for her heroic fight against fascism.

Stephanie Street’s plays include The Reluctant Fundamentalist and Sisters; as an actor, her Chichester credits include Our Generation and Quiz.

Priyanga Burford (The Vortex CFT, An Enemy of the People West End – Olivier nomination, Steeltown Murders) plays Noor.

Diyan Zora, who previously directed Mom, How Did You Meet The Beatles? at CFT and, more recently, Roots (Almeida) and English (RSC, Olivier Award nomination) co-directs with Elin Schofield, whose work includes Scissors at Sheffield Theatre for which she won the UK Theatre Award for Best Director.

Show Info

PERFORMANCE TIMES
Mon – Sat 8pm
Thu 4pm, Sat 2.30pm

CONTENT ADVICE
Our content warnings are updated as a production evolves through rehearsals and previews, so please note they may change between booking a ticket and seeing the production.

SATURDAY SEMINAR
Sat 10 Oct, 11am – find out more and book here

MEMBERS’ AND PATRONS’ EVENING WITH POST SHOW-TALK
Thu 1 Oct

Booking is open exclusively to all our Members and Patrons.

Membership starts at £60 and supports the OT to create our ambitious programme of artistic and community work. These evenings are a chance to mingle with fellow Members and Patrons, meet the OT staff, and hear from the cast and creative team of the production.

OT UNDER 30 NIGHT
Fri 2 Oct, 8pm

On OT Under 30 Nights, enjoy a free drink and post-show talk all included with your £15 ticket.

RELAXED & DISTANCED PERFORMANCE
Tue 13 Oct, 8pm

AUDIO-DESCRIBED PERFORMANCE
Wed 14 Oct, 8pm 

CAPTIONED PERFORMANCE
Tue 20 Oct, 8pm

To book accessible seats, and for audio described and captioned, please call the box office on 020 8940 3633 (Mon-Sat, 10am-6pm) or email
box.office@orangetreetheatre.co.uk. If you’re on our Access List, you can log in and book online.

TICKET PRICES
No booking fees. Prices increase based on demand. Book early to secure your seats at the best prices.

£15 tickets for Under 30s on all seats for all performances – subject to availability

£15 access tickets – find out more

£15 tickets available for members of theatre unions and guilds

£1 tickets available through our subsidised ticket scheme – find out more

Cast

Priyanga Burford

Noor

Creative Team

Stephanie Street

Writer

Diyan Zora

Co-Director

Elin Schofield

Co-Director

Anna Yates

Designer

Tingying Dong

Sound Designer

Jacob Sparrow CDG

Casting Director