A provocative and courageous new drama called Liberation Squares, which explores how Islamophobia is being normalised, comes to the Birmingham stage.
Liberation Squares is now playing at the Birmingham Rep theatre.
At a time when racism and Islamophobia are reaching record levels, and police forces across the UK are recording a surge in hate crimes, along comes a hard hitting new play that dares to ask whether our political and social freedoms are nothing more than illusions, and that some people are more equal than others.
Fifth Word, an award-winning theatre company based in the East Midlands, has been producing plays since 2007 with the aim of inspiring young people and giving voice to those whose stories remain untold, or if they are showcased, done so in a sensationalist and prejudicial manner.
Writer Sonali Bhattacharyya’s Liberation Squares takes stories from Muslim women and hones them into a play that pleads for a shared humanity during dark and divisive times where social and civil freedoms, including freedom of speech, are being curbed or snatched away as new laws pass through Parliament that muzzle our sacred right to protest.
The words of civil rights activists may not be spoken verbatim in this drama, but their spirit and essence inspires and forms the soul of the Bhattacharyya’s blistering and topical story which is full of raw human emotions.
The tale at the heart of Liberation Squares focuses on three schoolgirls named Ruqaya, Sabi and Xara who come together to form a friendship that will bond them in unexpected ways.
The trio use contemporary technology, which includes social media platforms such as TikTok, contemporary hip hop music and dance to challenge stereotypes about Muslim women. They soon realise that to be a girl, to be outspoken, to have differing views or to criticise the status quo is to invite negative attention from the powers-that-be.
As the three teenagers go on a journey of self-discovery, the girls soon detect that something dark and insidious is looming at breakneck speed to derail their freedom of expression.
The girls fall foul of the government’s draconian and divisive ‘Prevent’ programme which targets and puts individuals under surveillance if they display any signs of ‘radicalisation’ or if they question ‘British Values’.
All the girls want to do is just to be themselves, have fun and be carefree, and celebrate their friendship in their own unique manner. They have no interest in toppling governments, or going on some ‘jihad’, or joining some political demonstration.
As the three girls have their friendship severely tested by the way each of them resists the backlash from authorities the story dares to tackle the government’s obsessive crusade to criminalise those who object to the way the country is turning into a totalitarian nightmare where the voices of dissent become hunted, silenced, arrested, smeared, attacked and ridiculed by politicians and the news media.
The message at the heart of this female empowerment drama, which is also laced with joyous comedy and lots of frolics, is that freedom and friendship are precious treasures, and to protect these treasures the people have to stand firm against intolerance, xenophobia, racism, Islamophobia and misogyny.
Director Milli Bhatia uses all manner of fizzy and invigorating techniques to engage the audience. The sparse staging with a minimalist set, noir style lighting, and pulsating music all make references to pop culture such as comic-books, movies, games and social media.
The three actresses work in perfect harmony and their friendship comes across as warm and sincere. Vaneeka Dadhira’s (Ruqaya) beatboxing skills are fiery and feral, and she spits the lyrics like a panther on a righteous hunt for the truth. Asha Hassan (Sabi) brings a beautiful ambiance to her part, and every word is spun out with clarity and emotion. Halema Hussain (Xara) is dynamic and passionate, with the right mix of emotions that reach into the hearts of the audience.
The press night for the show had some technical issues - a delayed start followed by the audience being ushered out of the auditorium so that sound and lightning issues could be resolved - but hopefully these problems will be ironed out by the time of the next performance.
Liberation Squares is a searing and intimate drama that explores the battle to save the spirit of freedom.
Verdict: ★★★★
Liberation Squares is now playing at the Birmingham Rep until Saturday 18 May
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