I would have loved to have seen the play Sisters, which just finished its cycle at the Crucible Studio in Sheffield, UK.
The play, by Stephanie Street was created from real interviews with UK Muslim women. According to a review of the theatre piece in The Guardian UK:
“Street’s fascinating play helps to chip away at the myth that there is such a thing as a monolithic Muslim culture.”
Interesting eh?
Sunday Lunch at the Khan’s
The action takes place as though the audience were all guests at Sunday lunch at the Khan family home in Sheffield. Those who watch the play are introduced to the characters: the UK-born mother, married to a British Pakistani, and three of her five daughters, who include secularised Samina and hijab-faithful Salima.
As the audience are offered pakora and cake, they also sample sweet and savoury opinions. Evidence of the outside word arrives at the dinner-table nucleus via a leaflet about Muslim women that’s pushed through the letterbox.
Muslim Women: A Hidden History
Sisters tackles religion, politics and sex, and reminds the audience of the diversity of Muslim female views: and we’re not just talking about a specific UK city, but many other parts of the world. The Hijab as a statement, Islamaphobia and even inter-Muslim prejudice are explored as part of the spectrum of opinions voiced through the play’s characters. The Guardian affirms that:
“Possibly the only source of agreement is that the history of Muslim women remains hidden to this day.”
Strong performances are cited from Ruth Carney who personifies the liberal view point, Denise Black as the adoptive Muslim mum, Zahra Ahmadi and Nisha Nayar as her daughters, and Lena Kaur as a relative who doubles up as a chorus member.
It would have been great to have dropped in at lunch at the Khan’s and seen this fascinating 5-piece drama.
Were any of you dear UK readers lucky enough to see Sisters? If so, do let us know what you think.
