Award-winning playwright and actor Asif Khan’s poignant family show Jabala and the Jinn comes to Lyric Hammersmith from 2nd – 9th April as part of its spring tour.
This poignant family production was developed with young British Muslim actors and explores grief and friendship through the eyes of young Jabala.
Tour details and ticket information can be found here
Jabala and the Jinn is coming to Lyric Hammersmith as part of its tour, what can you tell us about the show?
The play is about a seven-year-old girl named Jabala who lives with her dad in Bradford and has recently lost her mother. One morning before school, she discovers a voice speaking to her in Arabic and she assumes it must be her mother.
At school she makes friends with Munir, a refugee from Yemen, who desperately wants to learn Shakespeare and become a famous actor. With Munir’s help, they manage to communicate with this mysterious voice and in doing so, summon a Jinn called Sarah. The three of them become great friends until one day, when events take a drastic turn.
It’s a play for 5-12 year olds, and I hope it’s funny and adventurous!
What inspired you to write it?
I was commissioned a few years ago by Tamasha Theatre Company to create two plays for teenagers. During that process I worked with young people to help create the story, incorporating their ideas. I found it to be a very fulfilling and rewarding process. A couple of years later I became a dad to my little boy (now 5 years old). I realised that I didn’t want him to face the same challenges I faced as a child, with there being little to no representation of Muslims and South Asians.
Growing up there wasn’t a ‘cool’ role model who looked like me on television, in sport, in music, in films, in stories, in plays or in books. This led me to believe that being ‘brown’ was not cool and being a ‘muslim’ was not cool either. It made me feel a little embarrassed about my background and I desperately wanted to fit in.
We underestimate the importance of representation. I never want my little boy to feel that way and because there is a lack of stories for children involving British Muslim characters, I thought ‘why don’t I write some myself!’. An opportunity presented itself when I saw an invite for a new children’s play (From Kala Sangam, Stratford Circus and the Amal Foundation). That’s when I submitted my initial idea for Jabala And the Jinn, which I developed further with director Rosamunde Hutt and Turtle Key Arts. I hope it will be the first of many!
Tell us more about the work you’ve done with young British Muslim actors?
We did a week long workshop with British Muslim actors for Jabala And The Jinn. This involved lots of conversations, improvisations, and character work. I worked on a previous play with young British Muslim teenagers at a school in Whitechapel, which included workshopping the idea with them over a six week period.
What’s been the biggest challenge in creating this show?
The pandemic has definitely been difficult on the whole theatre world, just as we started planning to launch the show. But I also believe there is the continuing struggle with new work not getting the full support it needs, especially work from people of colour, who I don’t believe receive the same opportunities and recognition. Creating the work is a joy, but fighting for the opportunities to stage the work, continues to be a struggle.
How have audiences reacted to it so far?
The reaction from audiences has been amazingly positive. I’m overjoyed actually, with how much everyone is enjoying the story and picking up on the various themes. I love watching the kids following the story and laughing along. I love how eager they are to voice their thoughts during the performance. I also enjoy watching their parents’ reactions to the play. As you can see, I do glance over at the audience a lot during the performance!
What would you say to anyone thinking of booking to see Jabala and the Jinn?
Please come and bring your kids and families! Everyone, including the actors, director, creative and producing team have worked so hard on this new show. We have all poured our heart and soul into its creation. I really believe we have made something unique and special. Ultimately, it’s for the audience. It’s for the kids. The play can’t work without an audience. I really hope you enjoy it, connect with it and laugh!
