Liberation Squares

Description

★★★★
“[An] urgent story of gentrification, Islamophobia and friendship”
The Stage

★★★★
“Whilst there is a hard hitting narrative, there is a beautiful blend of humour that enables some light relief for the audience.”
Theatre & Tonic

★★★★
“Articulate and compelling… a thought-provoking experience that lingers long after the curtain falls.”
The Beestonian

“This is a fantastic and important piece of theatre, and something that is sure to get people talking.”
Elemental Theatre

Three teenage girls forge an unlikely friendship. They challenge each other with Tik Toks, beat-boxing, rap and dance routines… They just want to build their social media empire, or study astronomy, or become as good a rapper as Megan Thee Stallion. But they undergo a political awakening when they realise that what you say – even what you think – is viewed very differently depending who you are.

When they find themselves the target of the state surveillance ‘Prevent’ programme, they have to fight back. Friendships fracture and loyalties are tested as they pursue different avenues of resistance. In an era when dissent is being criminalised, what does it take to speak up?

This is a riotous, funny play told through the technicolour lens of three teenage girls. Inspired by graphic novels, hip hop, pop culture and real-world activists, Liberation Squares asks what it takes for young Muslim women today to be the heroes of their own stories.

Running time approx 1 hour 15 minutes.

Previous Fifth Word productions:

★★★★
“Mufaro Makubika’s smart dramatisation.”
The Guardian on WE NEED NEW NAMES

★★★★
“the significance of this play remain[s] immeasurable.”
The Stage on WE NEED NEW NAMES

★★★★
“A compassionate, emotionally astute and often very funny play.”
The Stage on LAVA

“an extraordinary achievement of writer, director and actors… deeply affecting work on a too-urgent subject.”
Exeunt on ALL THE LITTLE LIGHTS

Previous work by Sonali Bhattacharyya:

★★★★
“Moving portrayal of sisterly love…I’d defy anyone to remain unmoved.”
The Guardian on TWO BILLION BEATS

★★★★
“This timely and thoughtful new play”
WhatsOnStage on TWO BILLION BEATS

★★★★★
“The story seamlessly yokes the personal to the political.”
The Telegraph on CHASING HARES

Creative Team

Written by Sonali Bhattacharyya

Director Milli Bhatia

Designer Tomás Palmer

Sound Designer and Composer Elena Peña

Movement Director Iskandar R. Sharazuddin

Dramaturg Afshan D’Souza-Lodhi

Creative Associate Nic Wass

Casting Arthur Carrington

Cast