A new play, Combustion by Asif Khan, which aims to challenge racial and religious stereotypes about Muslims, comes to South Shields Customs House on 6 July.
“As a British Muslim, I’ve found my voice under-represented,” Khan said. “I believe this voice to be the voice of most British Muslims in this country, who feel as though they’re tarred with the same brush as the ‘bad’ Muslims, shown frequently on our screens and in our newspapers.”
The play is satire and Khan adds, “I hope it entertains the audience and makes them laugh, but that it also breaks stereotypes and misconceptions about Muslims.
“I hope that Muslim audiences can identify with the characters. I've not tried to shy away from anything. Some of it is quite hard hitting.
“It hopefully represents the good and the bad.”
Combustion is set in Bradford during Ramadan and centres on the effect on families and communities of sexual grooming.
As a group of racists plan to march through the city, latching on to the latest grooming scandal, mechanic Shaz (Beruce Khan) desperately tries to keep his garage business running smoothly so he can marry well.
Meanwhile, his sister Samina (Shireen Farkhoy) is determined to make her voice heard.
Khan trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) and was included in the BBC’s New Talent Hotlist 2017. He set up theatre company AIK Productions in 2015 to produce new, high quality theatre specialising in stories and voices from minority backgrounds.
The Customs House performance is the penultimate stop in a national tour produced in association with Tara Arts.