That, for a modern British Pakistani Hamlet, is the question
+ Photomontage: Bush Theatre
Daniel Nelson
Islamophobia, British Pakistanis, Prevent, migrant father-son relationships, racism, code switching, stereotypes: Statues has something to say about all these issues.
And names. Of course, names. I don’t remember a play by a brown or black person in Britain that doesn’t lament and mock white Britons’ inability or unwillingness to pronounce foreign names correctly.
This time it’s Dolly Aunty: real name Khadija. Her new moniker was bestowed years ago after she showed her sewing factory manager a photo of Dolly Parton.
Adopting an “English” name was the sort of compromise many migrants will recognise. Yusuf, the main character, about to start a new job as head of English at his old secondary school, certainly recognises the need to adapt and compromise.
But when star pupil Khalil refuses to accept his advice to compromise and curb his language while riffing on A-level Hamlet, trouble looms.
Yusuf is particularly disturbed by his role in Khalil’s difficulties because he is struggling to come to terms with the discovery that his recently deceased taciturn, TV-watching dad had a rapping, ambitious past about which rather stiff son knew nothing.
He has to come to terms with his fraught relationship with his father (mum hardly comes into the play) and his failure to perform religious rites for the funeral, as well as coming to terms with the furtive prejudices of the school (only two writers of colour on the syllabus, aversion to the word “radical”, “how to be Muslim enough for my pupils, but not be too Muslim so my colleagues think I’m a threat?” That, for a modern British Pakistani Hamlet, is the question.)
Writer Azan Ahmed — who is also one of the two actors, along with Jonny Khan — packs all this, plus high-energy bursts of rap, into 80 thoughtful, entertaining minutes.
Second-generation British Pakistani dad might have been intimidated into near-silent sighs and slumps, but hopefully third-generation British Pakistani Yusuf and second-generation British Pakistani Khalil will keep their voices; there’s no doubt that real-life playwright Ahmed has found his.
Statues, from £15 (concessions available), is at the Bush Theatre, 7 Uxbridge Road, W12 8LJ until 9 November. Info: bushtheatre.co.uk
19 Oct, Post-show discussion: Creating work in the context of an Islamophobic society, after 3pm show + 25 Oct, Deen & Dunya; A Muslim poetry night in response to Statues, after 8pm performance + 28 Oct, Post-show discussion: Meet the artists, after evening show