42-year-old Shahid Iqbal Khan's Olivier-nominated play ‘10 Nights!’ is about a young Muslim man's spiritual journey of self-discovery after he decides to participate in Itikāf - the Islamic practice of staying in a mosque and fasting for the last ten nights of Ramadan.
This moving and funny production tells Yasser’s not-so-unusual story in a very colloquial yet lucid English, with a mix of Urdu and Arabic references.
The protagonist Yasser, who was a young Muslim man, enjoyed his tiktok, company of friends, shopping, clubbing and occasional substance abuse that led to an unfortunate accident. Eventually, he landed in the mosque and fasting the last ten nights of Ramadan on behalf of his friend Aftab, on a journey of self-reflection, as he discovered his faith (and its people) in a brand-new light.
When we focus on the practices of Ramadan, it is often just a recap of the existing norms and principles. Here young Yasser’s discovery walks us through the many facets of Islam, helping him find his identity and the courage to accept and forgive himself.
The play is a true reflection of many issues, revolving around social and mental health that affect young Muslim men. Living sandwiched between two cultures in Britain, they often struggle with identity, which leads to their many social struggles. While there is a pressure to integrate with other non-ethnic youngsters they grow up with, charmed and thrilled by the nation’s popular culture, it is the tug-of-war of cultural differences within them, that often leaves them beat.
At that point, however, underestimated and old-fashioned it may sound, one’s faith sometimes holds the key to the most difficult existential questions, liberating the mind from shackles of expectations, guilt and peer pressure, helping them to cope and challenge the need for use of substance to get by.
26-year-old actor Azan Ahmed as Yasser, and acting as his friends, parents, community members etc- have singlehandedly delivered a very powerful (multi-role) play, with the ability to make the audience laugh at his goofiness, at the same time make them sympathise with his inner conflicts.
Azan, a screen and theatre actor from London’s Kilburn area, is best known for the role of sergeant Eddie Suleman in ITV’s Van der Valk. He also appeared in The Father and the Assassin at the National Theatre and The Tempest at Shakespeare’s Globe in 2023. His powerful and convincing acting throughout the 90-minute play is gripping, as he moves in and out of many characters he plays, delivering difficult monologues with simplicity and ease.
Shahid's talent and resolution to freely talk about the cultural struggles of Britain’s Muslim community through his play is truly commendable. A must watch.
