The Royal Court Theatre in London presents a play that is being praised ‘a Muslim Bridget Jones’s Diary’. In Shades, the audience accompanies liberal Muslim Sabrina on her quest for Mr Right in London, joining her on an Islamic speed dating event and meeting her gay flat mates. She finally has to decide between the rather rational Ali and the devout and more traditional Reza.
Young writer Alia Bano not only gives an entertaining insight into Islamic life in Britain but also depicts the variety in attitudes of British Muslims. Reza represents the practising Muslim who thinks of himself as very English and Sabrina’s gay friend Zain condemns the ‘fundos’ whose thwarted sexuality, to his mind, results in radical violence. The play implies that intolerance is as much present among secular Muslims as it is with traditionalists, clears up with prejudices on both sides and altogether calls for using one’s common sense a little more often.
