Written by Claudia Marinaro and based on the experiences of director Annemiek van Elst, whose brother converting to Islam Becoming Mohammed will play at the Pleasance Theatre from the 2nd to the 21st May.
When Sara knocks on her brother’s door after two years, she hardly recognises the man in front of her. Thomas has grown a beard, gets up at the crack of dawn, and dates a girl in a Hijab. They attempt to rekindle their childhood friendship, but Thomas hasn’t told his sister everything yet…
Talking about the production Annemiek van Elst said: “When my little brother converted to Islam, it came as a shock; he started to reject our family traditions and follow the Sharia law. What could have been a breaking point became a difficult but beautiful journey of acceptance, which inspired the making of Becoming Mohammed. We believe that, now more than ever, there is a need to represent narratives around Islam in a positive light, and that conversion should be seen not as a threat but as an opportunity to build connections.”
Becoming Mohammed explores what it takes for a Western man to become a Muslim as well as the struggles that his family face in coming to terms with his choice.
The show has been created in consultation with Islamic communities in both London and Rotterdam, and is being supported by a cultural facilitator, Nabihah Islam.
Cast for the production announced so far includes: Philippa Carson and Nadia Lamin. Becoming Mohammed is designed by Bex Kemp with costume designs by Syed Shadid Nisar and illustration and graphic designs by Daniela Pinheiro.
Becoming Mohammed will play at the Pleasance Theatre from the 2nd to the 21st May. For more information and to book tickets visit: https://www.pleasance.co.uk/event/becoming-mohammed#overview