Inspired by director Annemiek Van Elst’s experiences of her brother converting to Islam, the world premiere of Becoming Mohammed comes to Pleasance Theatre. The play explores what it takes for a Western man to become a Muslim, and for his family to come to terms with his choice.

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…

Annemiek van Elst comments, 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. Through our show, we aim to offer support to converts and their families, and to contribute to creating a more tolerant society.

Becoming Mohammed has been created in direct consultation with Islamic communities in both London and Rotterdam, and is being supported by a cultural facilitator, Nabihah Islam. In an effort to open up a dialogue and understanding between Western and Islamic communities, half of all performances will begin with a short forum theatre workshop. The company will also host post-show Q&As on Friday evenings and will share their research interviews with reverts and Islamic leaders online. 


Performance dates Tuesday 2nd – Sunday 21st May 2017
Tuesday-Saturday, 7:45pm
Sunday, 5:30pm

Post- show talks Find out more at https://www.pleasance.co.uk/.

Running time 90 minutes

Twitter #BecomingMohammed, #AndManyOthers, @TheatreAMO, @ThePleasance

Website http://andmanyothers.co.uk/

Director Annemiek van Elst
Writer Claudia Marinaro
Producer Hannah Tookey
Designer Bex Kemp
Costume Design Syed Shadid Nisar
Facilitator Nabihah Islam
Illustrator & graphic designer Daniela Pinheiro

Sarah Philippa Carson
Aminah Nadia Lamin
Thomas tbc
Musa tbc

Location Pleasance Theatre, Carpenters Mews, North Road,
London N7 9EF

How to get there The nearest tube station is Caledonian Road (on the Piccadilly Line). Turn left out the station and then take the first left up North Road. The theatre is then 100m up on your left. The closest rail station is Caledonian Road and Barnsbury.

Box Office Tickets are available from Pleasance Theatre Box Office on 020 7609 1800 or online at https://www.pleasance.co.uk/. Tickets are priced at £14 Full and £12 Concession.

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