• Advertise
  • Request Review
  • Write for Us
  • Privacy
  • Login

Theatre Bubble

The UK Theatre Network

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Reviews
  • News
  • Features
  • Spotlight
  • Opinions
  • Interviews
  • Guides
  • Ed Fringe

Combustion at the Arcola

June 8, 2017 by Emma Brand Leave a Comment

Review of: Combustion at the Arcola Theatre
Price:
£17, £14

Reviewed by: Emma Brand
Rating:
3
On June 8, 2017
Last modified:June 8, 2017

Summary:

Khan is fast emerging as the voice (or certainly a voice) of his generation of Muslims, but this play has a resounding relevance for our society as a whole.

More Details

In the wake of the attacks on Manchester and London, and, more pertinently to Combustion, the recent airing of the BBC’s “Three Girls”, Asif Khan’s exploration of young British Muslims grappling with their identities could not be more timely. It’s brave, outspoken theatre, that perhaps deserved a bigger audience than it had at the Arcola last night.

Shaz (Beruce Khan) is a mechanic who has supported his family since the death of his father. His garage takes centre-stage, where he is joined by the unpredictable, fiery Ali (Rez Kempton), and Faisal (Mitesh Soni), whose simple, friendly character provides many of the laughs as Khan tackles this difficult subject with comedy.  The play takes as its focus a fictional example of a story we all read about – a pre-teen white girl, known initially only as “Girl T”, has been raped by an ever-widening circle of Muslim men. Bradford is divided by the revelations. An EDL march is organised outside a mosque, and the Muslim community, made up, as we see, of so many individuals with diverse outlooks and beliefs, is left reeling.

It took a while for me to get into Combustion; I was put off initially by the debate between Shaz and Ali as to what the Muslim response should be to both the paedophilia and the islamophobia that have come to the surface in their town. Shaz wants a quiet life, and for Muslims to stop “feeding into the hands of Tommy Powell.” Ali vows to “go jihad on them…bomb all the racist cunts.” The argument makes for a brave opening to the show, but for me it was too early, too trite, too shouty. Khan is much more subtle in his criticism of both the white and Asian characters for their hypocrisy when it comes to misogyny – each side points the finger whilst failing to address issues in their own communities.

The script really came to life, however, with the appearance of Samina (Shireen Farkhoy), a peace activist trying to heal divisions in Bradford, despite living under her brother’s somewhat overprotective rule. The way she talks about Islam is smart, insightful, and loving, and Farkhoy plays her with a passion that makes the friendship she strikes up with ex-EDL member Andy (Nigel Hastings) not only plausible, but riveting. Their relationship in the end is what drives the show, and leaves the audience with an overwhelming feeling of hope at the end, as we are left with the image of Samina, standing in front of her bright green “Bradford for Peace” banner.

In terms of staging, the garage is represented by a sparse set, consisting of a metal grill on which all the tools of a mechanic’s trade are hung, and the grey tables and benches that stand cleverly for cars in the opening scene are rearranged to create the various other locations. I found at times that the constant rearranging of furniture, and the presence of the offstage characters behind the grill, prevented me from being fully absorbed by the action. I also found the staging a little dated and distracting at times – all those tableaus felt out of sync with Khan’s extremely current script.

Overall, I think this play, though a little shrill and shouty in places, is a much needed tonic after these past few weeks, and a really significant insight into a social group that is often seen as homogenous block. Khan is fast emerging as the voice (or certainly a voice) of his generation of Muslims, but this play has a resounding relevance for our society as a whole.

Emma Brand

Author: Emma Brand

Filed Under: Review Tagged With: Arcola, new writing

Join the discussion Cancel reply

NEWS / Living Record Festival of digital arts announces programme

Living Record Festival is a month-long Digital Arts Festival curating and presenting over 40 original pieces from a range of [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Open Bar on A ChristMESS CAROL

Tell us about Open Bar Theatre and also how you came about and how the name came about. OBT: Open Bar [Read More]

NEWS / Ayomide Adegun awarded The Luke Westlake Scholarship 2020

22 year old South Londoner Ayomide Adegun is currently in his 2nd year of the BA Acting course at Royal [Read More]

NEWS / Late Night Staring at High Res Pixels announced

A new play repurposed for online viewing from the creative team behind Scrounger, and the first of the Finborough Theatre’s [Read More]

NEWS / Crimes Against Christmas becomes an audio advent calendar

Typically at this time of year theatre company New Old Friends would have just finished an Autumn tour and be [Read More]

Top Posts & Pages

  • 10 Tips to Help You Prepare for Your Reality TV Auditions
  • Writing the Perfect Press Release
  • 5 Stage Elements to Consider for a Rousing Theatrical Production
  • Parliament Square at the Bush Theatre
  • Interview with Alan Flanagan, writer-performer of Bingo
  • Katy Owen: Auditioning for Oxford School of Drama
  • Katy Owen: How to Apply to Drama Schools*
  • How to Applying for Arts Grants and Funding
  • The Pay’s the Thing: Making a Living as an Actor
  • Katy Owen: LAMDA Audition (First Round)
  • Emma Brand

    Emma Brand
    Contributor

  • June 8th, 2017
  • comment iconNo Comments
  • FacebookTweetLinkedInEmail

    Newsletter

    Enjoyed what you've read? Get even more great content directly to your inbox - Completely Free

    About Theatre Bubble

    Theatre Bubble is the news, review and blogging site created by Blue Pie Media and run by a dedicated team of outstanding editors and writers: we're always looking for new contributors - to find out more click here.

    Contact Us

    News: news@theatrebubble.com
    Reviews: reviews@theatrebubble.com
    Website: webmaster@theatrebubble.com

    Privacy Policy

    Copyright © 2021 · Blue Pie Media

    Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

    Email sent!