Afreena Islam

Presented by Word of Warning + Contact

Part of Works Ahead 2016 Compact Edition: hidden stories and half-remembered truths from Terri Donovan + Afreena Islam.

In Brief

“When I was little, I used to hang out at my dad’s restaurant most weekends, back when they used to stay open until 5am. After a hard day’s toil running around pretending to be him, I would fall asleep to the CCTV, my body on the chest freezer and my head resting on a pile of tablecloths.”

In Daughters of the Curry Revolution, Afreena attempts to navigate her dad’s journey to help her figure out her own…

Venue + Booking Details for Compact Edition

Dates: Friday 3 + Saturday 4 June 2016, 5pm + 6pm (limited capacity, repeats)
Two extra shows added due to demand: 4pm (both dates)
Venue: Contact, Oxford Road, Manchester, M15 6JA
Tickets: £4/2
Box Office Tel: 0161 274 0600

Access Information for Compact Edition

Age advisory: 14+ (parental/guardian discretion). Daughters… is spoken word based and will be the second part of a double bill lasting approximately 1¼ hours including a short pause to move location within the building. For specific age and access information please email info@habarts.org or call 0161 232 6086.

More

“My dad is an illiterate Muslim immigrant called Michael. He left home when he was 8, and came to England when he was 22. He worked for about 65 years, retired, and then had a brain haemorrhage. He’s 84 now.

I am a first generation Mancunian Bangladeshi called Afreena. I tried to leave home a few times, but the smell of my mums curry always led me back. I’m the last child (as far as I know!) born to my dad. I’m 25 now.”

In an intimate performance, Afreena invites you to take a seat around her dinner table as she serves up stories from her father’s past, present, and what little she imagines is left of his future. Exploring what it means to be her dad’s daughter in the context of the anti-immigration rhetoric she is surrounded by, Afreena follows her dad’s journey to this country, and his journey to this day.

“I’ve never told my dad that I love him and it would be contrived if I ever did. We’re not a very lovey-dovey family. But I guess this performance is something of a love letter, maybe?”

Who is she?

Afreena calls herself an artist only when she’s got something to say. The rest of the time she produces stuff, researches stuff, performs in stuff, sits on boards and eats posh sandwiches.

At the moment she is managing Divergency, a project seeking to engage more diverse artists in live art and contemporary performance in the north. Daughters… is her first solo work, which itself has been developed through Divergency.

What people have said about Daughters…

…such an engaging performer / host, and a striking story to tell.
Brian Logan, Director Camden People’s Theatre
I was deeply moved by Daughters of the Curry Revolution, an important work that takes courage to make and share.
Ria Hartley, Artist

Credits

Works-in-progress of Daughters… have been seen at Domestic II, and Camden People’s Theatre during Sprint 2016.
Works Ahead 2016 is commissioned and produced by hÅb and Contact; supported using public funding by Arts Council England + funded by Manchester City Council. Project Mentor: Peader Kirk
worksahead.org | #WorksAhead

Website

@afreenaazaria