An established scriptwriter, poet, and performer, Anjum is a senior lecturer in creative writing at Manchester Metropolitan University. She has written several much-acclaimed original plays for BBC, ITV and theatre. A regular creative writing tutor for leading literary organisations in UK and overseas. Anjum uses fact to fiction, food, real stories of hard to reach people, as well as pure creativity to inspire her writing. Over 80 of her scripts have been produced, her poetry is in numerous anthologies as well as her own collection. Her previous jobs include police officer, interpreter, sales person, business owner and classical Indian Kathak dancer. She was born in Saudi Arabia of Pakistani heritage and has lived in Pakistan as well several cities in the UK. Anjum is multi-lingual and currently based in Manchester, U.K.
Current projects and work:
- Adaptation of ‘An Invitation To Indian Cooking’ by Madhur Jaffery to a drama series for BBC.
- ‘The Interpreter’, original TV Drama series commissioned by Chrysalis TV.
- ‘Snaking Flame’, feature film optioned and in development with Old hall Films .
- ‘At Home-In The UK-Alhamdulillah’ a poetry film produced in lockdown working with Syrian Refugees.
- ‘Collaborate’, commissioned by Cartwheel Arts to write a food growing poem as part of exhibition.
- Senior Lecturer, Writing School, Manchester Metropolitan University.
Transmitted/ performed/ toured: (credits, a selection)
- Multilingual poetry to celebrate International Mother Language Day using food theme working with Manchester schools and libraries, established in Feb 2018, ongoing annually.
- Hidden Heroes – Portraits, a poetry film working with new arrivals produced for Asia Triennial 2019.
- Hidden Heroes – Suitcase, a poetry film and exhibition working with schools produced for Asia Triennial 2019.
- ‘Heart:Beat’ a food poetry collection working with tribal farmers in India, inspired by their Warli art and rice growing traditions. 2018
- Adaptation of award winning ‘The New Book of Middle Eastern Food’ by Claudia Roden to a drama series for BBC Radio 4 Drama, Broadcast, 2 – 6th April 2018.
- Hidden Stories 3 – Refugees and Asylum seekers – North West tour 2017 -2018, publication 2019.
- Coronation Street, May – Sept 2015. Story Associate for TV soap.
- Hidden Stories 2 – War. ‘The Curious Incident Of The Gurkha Knife’ and ‘The Princess Who Became A Spy’. Two mini plays, two epic tales. Tour 2016.
- Hidden Stories 1, Village Girl, Nahid, Breaking The Silence, The Lost Salford, four mini monologues, North West, Emirates Literature Festival tour. 2015
- Baaji On The Beat, comedy stage play for award winning JB Shorts 2014.
- Napoleon Rising. Radio adaptation of Anthony Burgess play celebrating 200th Napoleonic Anniversary, starring Toby Jones.‘ Pick Of The Day’ Radio Times’ ‘Four out of five stars, Time Out’. Broadcast 3rd Dec 2012. Sun 14 Jun 2015, BBC RADIO 3.
- The Lost Salford Sioux, BBC Radio 3 Drama, based on a true story of a Sioux Indian in Salford Buffalo Bill’s troupe in the 19th century, ‘4 Stars (out of 5) Time Out, Radio Times Choice.’ Broadcast, January 2012.
- The Interpreter Series 2, BBC Radio 4 Drama. Based on Anjum’s own interpreter work with courts, police, immigration, Broadcast through February 2008.
- Breaking The Silence, Unity FM, Birmingham. Drama series based on talks with 200 British Muslim women, police, lawyers, Islamic scholars and terrorist suspects, barristers on violent extremism in UK. Broadcast, 2007 – 2010.
- Fast Girl, Doctors, BBC Drama Series. Broadcast, 2nd October 2007.
- The Interpreter Series 1, BBC Radio 4 Drama. Based on Anjum’s own interpreter work with courts, police, immigration, hospitals. Broadcast 20-25 February 2006.
- Silver Street, BBC Asian Network Soap Drama Series, lead writer, series developer. 2004 – 2006.
- Nahid, People’s History Museum, live performances monologue, 2001 -2008.
- Mela Mania, BBC Radio 4 Drama. Based on true stories of Bradford Mela (festival). Biggest outside India. The Times “Pick of the Day”. Broadcast, 9th August 2001.
- Snaking Flame. BBC Radio 4 Drama. Based on the real kitchen fire deaths of unwanted British Asian women and Anjum’s poem . Broadcast 9th August 2001.
- Escape To Somerset. Film HTV /ITV. A love story of a young Ugandan Asian woman escaping Idi Amin. Starring Archie Panjabi, Emmy Award winner. Broadcast 2000.
Residencies, Workshop, Courses, Arts Projects: (a selection)
- Black Stories Matter CIC and Hidden Stories Arts Business 2012 to Present.
- Tutor for Arvon, Teaching residential courses in script writing, poetry and working on schools programme including the national Arvon Mother Tongue project.
- Cartwheel Arts, Heywood. Workshop Facilitator. Creative writing Projects. 2010 -17. New writing, publications, performances, workshops with hard to reach, disadvantaged groups.
- Writer In Residence, Manchester Strangeways Prison, Oct 2006- March 2007
- The Lowry, Salford, Manchester. Poet-In-Residence, Commonwealth Games. Feb – June 2002. Exploring Commonwealth legacy through food poetry in Manchester, UK and Suva, Fiji.
Publications: (a selection)
- Malik, A. (1995) Before The Rains, Huddersfield University: Huddersfield University Press.
- Edited by Tipton, D, and Toczek, N. (1997) The Spirit Of Bradford, Poems for the City’s Centenary, Bradford: Redbeck Press.
- Seventy-Five Poems by fifty-three poets. (1999) Peace Poems, Manchester: Crocus Press.
- Edited by Kalu, P. May, S. (2006) Hair, Manchester. Suitcase Press.
- Malik, A. (2008) The Suitcase Book Of Love, Manchester. Suitcase Press.
- Malik, A. (2014) When Sarah Met Saira, Manchester, Crocus Press.
- Heart:Beat Artist’s Book, The Warli Project (2018) published by The Clay Foundation.
