Daughters of the Curry Revolution
“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 85 now.
I am a first generation Mancunian Bangladeshi called Afreena. I tried to leave home a few times, but the smell of my mum's curry always led me back. I’m the last child (as far as I know!) born to my dad. I’m 26 now.”
In this intimate performance, Afreena invites you to take a seat around her dinner table as she serves up secondhand 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.
Daughters of the Curry Revolution has been commissioned and produced by hÅb and Contact as part of Works Ahead 2016. Image credit - Tamsin Drury.
Nice things some people said about it on Twitter
(that I never even asked them to say!)
@Hopscotchawc: Thank you to our neighbours @CamdenPT and to @afreenaazaria for performing your wonderful show Daughters @Hopscotchawc
@ForestFringe: LONDON. Our pal @afreenaazaria's brilliant show is on from today @CamdenPT. It's so delicate and smart. Go go go.
@ashlie_nels: Daughters of the #CurryRevolution felt like being with a good friend. Moving, funny & generous, @afreenaazaria is a rising talent #edfringe
@ashpeela: Lovely lovely show by Afreena Islam at @CamdenPT last night as part of Sprint Festival - a warm exploration of heritage and family
@_RosyD: Really rich & powerful storytelling. Deserves to be developed &seen by more people. Going to stay w. me for a while