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 “Not
all Muslims are terrorists!” rebukes Millie
“But all these terrorists are Muslims!” replies Franchesca
“Come and hear what we’re not allowed to say whilst you
still can” the tagline on the posters read. “DENIED at the
Fringe”, “Muslim Britain” “Could I be your
granddaughter?” state the signs donned around the necks of the
burka-clad actors – a step too far off the marketing mountain or
a self-fulfilling prophecy? – we will have to wait and see!
Inspired by the 1999 BBC Panorama documentary Murder in Purder
(on honour killings in Pakistan) and the more recent terrorist
attacks on the West, Jodi De Souza’s new play follows the lives
of two young girls - Sana born in Boluchistan and Franchesca
born in the UK - two very different places and two very
different lives, but as Franchesca is to find out, it is just a
matter of time before the stark contrasts become striking
similarities.
An arresting production in a climate where there are many
concerns regarding the threat of fundamentalist Islam in the UK,
DENIED has an important significance in a crucial time - "When
we look starkly at the demographic statistics, the wimpishness
of our Establishment in the face of the threat, the perversions
perpetrated by political correctness and our own passivity, it's
hard to avoid the conclusion that within a couple of
generations, Islam will be in control in Europe." (Daily Mail -
5th May 2007)
But what would that Europe look like? And what exactly is Islam?
A religion? A socio-economic system? What exactly is a Muslim? A
true Muslim? Someone who takes the Koran literally or liberally?
Indeed Franchesca has countless questions, as many of us do…but
do we really get honest answers?
“In all my study, in all my reasoning, all my interviews and
reporting, the answer that I have found lies at the end of the
biggest question of all…will that same power that denied freedom
to all those women in Boluchistan, that denied life to those 52
victims during the London terrorist attacks in 2005, the same
power that continues to deny thousands all across our world, now
deny me the right - here in the United Kingdom - to put on this
play, and deny you the right to watch it?” (Franchesca –
DENIED’s Protagonist)
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