Description
A Brixton House production, presented with HighTide in association with the Mercury Theatre Colchester.
A debut play by Waleed Akhtar
“In Afghanistan there are many important issues. So I am asking a very important question.
Britney, or Shakira?
Who is the real Queen of Pop?”
Inspired by a true story of Afghanistan’s first youth music TV programme, Kabul Goes Pop: Music Television Afghanistan explores the devastating effects as two young friends take on the political landscape while trying to build a new Afghanistan.
Kabul Goes Pop brings us into a world post the US invasion that is complex, contradictory, and shocking – all to a soundtrack of early 00 pop!
★★★★★ New European
‘A brave piece about the betrayal of a generation.’
‘An elegantly written, often very funny, piece that works precisely because it takes a moral position on Afghanistan, and, underlying every word, there is a raw and admirable fury.’
★★★★ The Stage
‘Shanko Chauduhuri’s all-white design, seamlessly incorporating video panels (hat tip to video designer Gino Ricardo Green) showing archive pop clips that evoked a nostalgic glow in this nearly 40-year-old.’
‘Anna Himali Howard’s production pulses with energy.’
CAST
Farook – Arian Nik
Samia – Shala Nyx
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer – Waleed Akhtar
Director – Anna Himali Howard
Set, Costume and Graphic Designer – Shankho Chaudhuri
Sound Designer – Anna Clock
Lighting Designer – Rajiv Pattani
Video Designer – Gino Green
Choreographer – Yami Löfvenberg
Assistant Director – Neetu Singh
Costume Supervisor – Olivia Ward
Content warnings:
The show contains swearing and themes which may cause distress.
Sexual violence is referred to, and abduction and murder is described.
Grief over the loss of a loved one is depicted, and the mental illness and death of a family member is referred to.
War and political violence is discussed, including mentions of suicide bombings and a description of being injured in a bombing.
Life under Soviet and Mujahideen conflict and Taliban rule in Afghanistan is described.
Download a free copy of the Kabul Goes Pop plot summary.
