Peaceophobia at Q-Park First Street Car Park
Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor
Part car rally, part theatre show, Peaceophobia is a unique performance, presented by Contact, that takes place in a car park in the city centre of Manchester.
Peaceophobia reflects on the rising Islamophobia happening around the world and aims to challenge the political, social and cultural narratives that surround young Muslim men.
With a real powerhouse of creatives behind the project, the show was conceived in Bradford and co-directed by young women from Speakers’ Corner Collective, a political and creative group of women and girls who bring people together to drive positive action. Co-written by Zia Ahmed and Bradford Modified Car Club, the performance has also been co-produced by Fuel.
The narrative centres around three Muslim Pakistani men: Ali, Sohail and Casper who have grown up in the shadow of the Bradford Riots, 9/11 and police harassment. For the three men, the car community and their faith offer sanctuary, an escape and a way to express themselves. As Ali, Sohail and Casper take control of the preconceived notions surrounding their religion, their city and their cars, Peaceophobia aims to disrupt socio-cultural narratives associated with young Muslim men.
With cinematic lighting and an original electronic soundtrack, a Toyota Supra, a Golf and a classic Nova, this site-specific performance is staged in an atmospheric urban car park. Bringing cars and theatre together, this promises to be a powerful and urgent performance aiming to challenge the negative stereotypes of young Muslim men, we so often see propagated by the media.
