THE air was turned blue and filled with laughter when the Khan family arrived in the North West earlier this week.

East is East, which was made into a hit 1999 film, is being staged at Manchester's Opera House until Saturday.

Heading up the Khan family is Pakistani chip-shop owner George Khan — Genghis to his children — who is played by Ayub Khan-Din, the writer of the original 1996 play.

East is East is his semi-autobiographical account of British Asian life in the 1970s and the heart of the piece shines through.

Funny, sharp, awash with expletives and, at times, close to the bone, the clash of cultures in a multi-cultural family growing up in Salford is both amusing and poignant.

It also tells a story about family life and the clash of generations, whatever the cultural background.

Actor and writer Ayub is a delight to watch as overbearing George, striking a balance between his character's comedy and bullying ways.

Jane Horrocks, famed for her appearances in Absolutely Fabulous and The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, is a delight to watch as harassed, chain-smoking, mother-of-seven Ella Khan.

With her loyalties divided between her marriage and the free will of her children, she gets caught in the crossfire of her sparring family.

My star of the show was Taj Atwal, as sparky schoolgirl Meenah who had me chuckling with every swearword she uttered and insult she spat in her brothers' faces.

The play opens with youngest sibling, parka-wearing Sajit, played by Johndeep More, distraught at his father's insistence he must have his 'tickle tackle' removed after the discovery he was not circumcised as a baby.

There are further problems when Ella learns George has arranged for their sons Abdul, played by Amit Shah, and Tariq, played by Ashley Kumar, to be married — cue more comedy when the snooty Shahs visit the Khans.

Sally Bankes, as nosy Catholic neighbour Auntie Annie, brings another dollop of Northern comedy and wit to the play which is a treat to brighten up a January evening.

East is East, part of Jamie Lloyd’s second Trafalgar Transformed season, is at the Manchester Opera House until Saturday.