admin Statues is a heart-felt story about grief, language, communication, family, and music. With a two-person cast, it is an intimate and profound piece of theatre. Set in the mid-90s, the play follows Yusuf, who makes a startling discovery after the death of his father.
Yusuf is a teacher who is about to start his position as the Head of English in his old school. Teaching Year 13s, who he struggles to communicate with. At home, Yusuf discovers his father’s past as a rapper who talks about things that actually matter to him.
The themes explored in Statues are universal, that it doesn’t matter what background you’re from. The grief of losing a father will resonate with many of us and finding out who a parent really was after they had gone is also very common.
For Yusuf, listening to Double MC’s tracks at home (allowing a comic bit on how to load a cassette tape) and teaching Hamlet at work, the world as he understands it is revealed to be unjust and freedom a fantasy.
Statues is a thoughtful and beautiful play, using language to push against our prejudices and open up our understanding. Urdu words are freely used and rarely defined.
Statues is currently playing at Bush Theatre until 9th November. Get your tickets here: https://www.bushtheatre.co.uk/event/statues/
WRITTEN BY:
Nura Arooj