I sat down with writer Farah Ashraf to find out more about Pink Rabbit coming to the Soho Theatre this November.
Pink Rabbit addresses the intersection of faith, financial independence, and female pleasure through Amna’s dual life. What inspired you to write a story that challenges traditional stage representations of young South Asian and Muslim women?
It came from a lot of inner frustration and conflict I was experiencing. I felt like I could keep talking about what frustrated me, or I could actually do something with it and use my voice as an artist.
I’ve always found that poetry and storytelling allow me to express things I can’t quite articulate in everyday conversation, and there’s something incredibly fulfilling and cathartic about that.
How was your Edinburgh Fringe experience, and has that impacted the way in which you have approached your London run?
The reception was incredibly positive!
Several reviews and people commented on how much they enjoyed the story and my performance and wanted a larger stage for the show to breathe, which we now have with Soho!
What drew you to using a combination of lyrical spoken word and live audience address to navigate Amna’s transition between her family life and her online persona as PersianBaby?
I’ve loved expressing myself through spoken word and poetry since I was young, so it only felt natural to take this further and deeper in the show.
It’s a mixture of duologues between characters (which I play both), rhythmic poetic reflections and then a lot of naturalistic monologue and dialogue with the audience.
The variation of form aids Amna’s journey and how varied and complex her identity is.
Amna uses adult content to gain freedom while balancing her conservative mother’s expectations. How do you approach depicting this complex, messy dynamic without falling into simple stereotypes?
I think specificity is key. The story goes into uncomfortable places, exploring the things we can’t always confront within ourselves, where we seek escapism and how different mindsets clash.
I don’t want these characters to simply represent an entire community; I want them to be human, contradictory, messy and deeply flawed, because that’s what real people are.
You mention that the play evolved from a five-minute drama school scratch piece into an award-winning full-length solo show. What has been the most rewarding aspect of that creative journey?
Collaborating with other people who believe in the story and are equally as passionate about it! I have an amazing team, who without them none of this would have been possible.
They’ve pushed me to grow as an artist in all areas, and despite the challenges that come with such an all-consuming show, it is so, so deeply rewarding to see where I am now versus when the idea was conceived.
If you could sum up the show in one word or phrase, what would it be and why?
Unapologetic.
The show is unapologetic about what it does, what it says and the ideas it interrogates. It is unapologetically itself.
Pink Rabbit runs at the Soho Theatre, London, on 24 November – 12 December. Tickets available at https://sohotheatre.com/events/pink-rabbit/
