COMMON WEALTH AND FUEL PRESENT
PEACEOPHOBIA
CO-CREATED BY COMMON WEALTH, SPEAKERS CORNER AND BRADFORD MODIFIED CLUB
WRITTEN BY ZIA AHMED
- SET IN AN OPEN SIDED BRADFORD CAR PARK OVERLOOKING THE CITY, PEACEOPHOBIA EXAMINES RISING ISLAMOPHOBIA FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF YOUNG PAKISTANI MEN FROM A MODIFIED CAR CLUB
- CO-DIRECTED BY EVIE MANNING PEACEOPHOBIA IS AN IMMERSIVE, CINEMATIC EXPERIENCE FEATURING AN ORIGINAL ELECTRONIC SOUND SCORE BY WOJTEK RUSIN AND DESIGN BY ROSIE ELNILE
- CO-DIRECTED BY MEMBERS OF SPEAKERS CORNER – A POLITICAL, CREATIVE COLLECTIVE CO-RUN BY WOMEN AND TEENAGE GIRLS BASED IN BRADFORD AND SITE SPECIFIC, CONTEMPORARY POLITICAL THEATRE COMPANY COMMON WEALTH
- CO-CREATED AND PERFORMED BY MEMBERS OF THE BRADFORD MODIFIED CLUB SOHAIL HUSSAIN, MOHAMMAD ALI YUNIS AND CASPER AHMED
- PEACEOPHOBIA WILL BE PERFORMED FROM 10 – 19 SEPTEMBER AT THE OASTLER CAR PARK IN BRADFORD, FOLLOWED BY SIX PERFORMANCES FROM 29 SEPTEMBER IN MANCHESTER AT FIRST STREET CAR PARK, PRESENTED BY CONTACT
- TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW FOR BRADFORD HERE AND MANCHESTER HERE
Conceived in Bradford and co-directed by young women from Speakers Corner Collective and award-winning theatre company Common Wealth, co-written by acclaimed playwright Zia Ahmed and Bradford Modified Club, Peaceophobia is a new immersive theatrical experience that will be performed in a car park in Bradford and then Manchester this autumn.
Peaceophobia is an unapologetic response to rising Islamophobia around the world. Part car-meet part-theatre, the show explores how you find peace in a world that tells you who you are. Growing up in the shadow of the Bradford Riots, 9/11 and police harassment, cars and faith are a sanctuary, an escape, an expression for three Muslim Pakistani men. Ali, Sohail and Casper are taking control of the narratives around their religion, their city, and their cars. Staged in a carpark with a Supra, a Golf and a classic Nova, Peaceophobia brings together cars and theatre with cinematic lighting and an original electronic sound score.
The production was conceived by members of the collective Speakers’ Corner, a group of women and teenage girls who wanted to tell the story of young Muslim men and their experiences of Islamophobia. Working with theatre company Common Wealth and acclaimed writer Zia Ahmed and the Bradford Modified Club they have created an uncompromising, and thrilling theatrical experience.
“Islamophobia exists as much today as it ever has before, injustices are occurring every day both in the UK and globally. Peaceophobia began as a campaign two years ago to promote that Islam comes from Peace and it is a personal project to us as co-creators and proud young Muslim women. We are part of a movement of young people who are using their voices to make a positive change and promote peace instead of being silenced.” Iram Rehman, Speakers Corner
“Bradford Modified Club promotes cars, culture and family – our cars are a piece of art and we’re passionate about challenging preconceptions. We’re coming together with Common Wealth to make a show which tackles Islamaphobia and celebrates the importance of car culture. We can’t wait for the audience to feel it with us.” Mo Ali Yunis, Performer
Peaceophobia is supported by Bradford 2025, Blueprint: Without Walls R&D Investment Fund, Co-Creating Change, Arts Council England, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Pears Foundation and Fenton Arts.