I love going to the theatre and when I received the invitation from Bush theatre for me and a friend to attend the press night for ’10 nights’ – the curious theatre lover in me had to go!
Bush theatre is the infamous home for new plays and playwrights. They discover, nurture and cultivate new talent to a professional standard of brilliance. The Bush has produced hundreds of groundbreaking premieres since its inception in 1972, many of them Bush commissions, and hosted guest productions by leading companies and artists from across the world.
The play that I went to see was “10 nights”, I decided not to read up on it beforehand but to just attend and dive head first with no pre-conceptions. I am glad I did because the performance was powerful – I was transported on the journey of the main character ‘Yasser’.
When Yasser decides to take part in itikaf, sleeping and fasting in the mosque for the last ten nights of Ramadan, he soon regrets his decision. But as he navigates smug worshippers, shared bathrooms, and recurring thoughts of chunky chips, Yasser’s isolation forces him to confront a side of himself he’s been trying to keep hidden.
A moving and funny new play by Shahid Iqbal Khan and directed by Kash Arshad, 10 Nights is the story of one man’s journey of self-discovery and facing the consequences of your actions.
As a non-religious woman, there were parts that I didn’t understand but the playwright had the foresight to have it explained during the storyline for people like me to catch up. I loved the story and was able to relate to points with the main character which made the experience even more amazing!
I definitely suggest you have a watch of the online version if you cannot make it to the theatre!
Love and Hugs,
Tillyah x