How do you mourn someone who just started to understand? That’s the question explored in Azan Ahmed’s new play Statues, which follows the days after Yusuf’s father’s death. His dad was not one for making conversation. Often, he was sat still and quiet in front of the TV. But, as Yusuf starts to clear up the remains of father’s life from his old flat in Kilburn, he discovers a man he doesn’t recognise after playing some ancient, dusty tapes.
The tape recorder plays loud beats, rap music and most, surprisingly of all, his father’s voice. His dad had things he wanted the world to hear; about his Pakistani culture, how it felt to fall in love, and living as an outsider in Britain. But how would Yusuf know this when his father is so silent?
Azan’s script delves into the complexity of grief. Yusuf is so upset that he doesn’t accept that his father is gone. He forces himself into his new job as the Head of English in his old secondary school and prepares to teach Hamlet to Year 13s.
When a student calls Shakespeare a ‘radical’ in front of the class, Yusuf decides to punish him to show him who has the authority. But in doing so, he puts the student in serious trouble.
The production is about what you have to do to thrive and generational clashes. Even in today’s society, the theme speaks to us as we see generational gaps in today’s time too. But it’s about how we deal with this clash to help us understand each other.
Statues is currently playing at Bush Theatre until 9th November. Get your tickets here: https://www.bushtheatre.co.uk/event/statues/
WRITTEN BY:
Nura Arooj
