10 Nights

'But this is not just about faith, it's about more…'

Shahid Iqbal Khan’s Olivier Awards nominated play, directed by Samir Bhamra, is a funny and inspiring portrayal of a British Pakistani Muslim man’s journey of transformation and self-acceptance as he observes Itikaf (practice of spiritual seclusion) during the last ten nights of Ramadan.

The pinky-purple hues of the stage lighting (Rajiv Pattani) evoke a sense of beauty, warmth and tranquility. For practicing Muslims, the colours look familiar to the skies we often experience after the Fajr prayer at dawn or just before the Maghrib prayer at dusk. 

We are introduced to the main protagonist, Yasser, wearing a colourful tracksuit and green crocs with socks (costume design by Simron Sabri). He is part of the 'Walmersley massive' and enjoys Tiktok. Yasser reluctantly decides to do Itikaf on behalf of his late friend, Aftab - we learn about the reason for this as the play progresses. Yasser’s father explains that Itikaf is “like fresh air” and an opportunity to seek forgiveness, at which point Yasser sarcastically refers to some of his sins including watching Peppa Pig.

The arched doors and geometric design of the set are simple but an accurate depiction of a mosque interior. It gently encourages the audience to think less about materialistic matters and more about the inner dimensions of worship. We are invited to strip away from external distractions and focus on the intimate environment of the space and the story about to unfold.

The monologue itself is performed in English with some script in Urdu, with captions projected on a background screen and though this is great for accessibility needs, it is at times distracting, especially when the dialogue being performed fails to match the text. It may also be worth asking who the written Urdu translation is for when majority of the audience seem to be English-speaking?

Yasser is extremely self-conscious about the relationship with his faith, but this feeling is delicately balanced with humour, such as him describing tarawih (congregational night prayers) as an 'endurance test', and having a visceral reaction when he sees a flat squat toilet in the bathroom (likely to bring back equally mortifying memories of holidays ‘back home’ for some members of the diaspora).

The transition between each of the 10 nights is quite effective and fluid in its presentation. We see Yasser move in and out of different prayer positions, and there is a digital ‘clock’ showing the phases of the moon, a reminder of how much Islam is in sync with the nature of celestial bodies. We hear different Arabic recitations from the Quran, we learn about the 99 names of Allah, and we are reminded that fasting is not just about abstaining from food and drink but also about letting go of bad habits such as swearing. As time passes, we witness a subtle spiritual awakening within Yasser. He begins to converse with God on his own terms and he has an epiphany: 'if Allah never leaves us, why should we leave Allah?'

The audience eventually understands the source of Yasser’s guilt and that he can begin to heal from the grief and trauma he has been carrying. Though there could have been a little more depth to this revelation by exploring the impact of a lack of spaces for men to talk about their inner struggles, Ali executes a moving performance in this moment, and the overall camaraderie between the male characters helps to shed light on how communal places of worship can bridge the gap between isolation and a sense of belonging. 

During a time of increasing Islamophobia, many of us have grown accustomed to Pakistani Muslim men being vilified in the media and being denigrated by far-right movements across the globe. It is, therefore, refreshing to witness their vulnerabilities and complexities without perpetuating problematic narratives.

10 Nights is moving, humorous and heartfelt. In a sector that seems to shy away from faith-based stories – deeming them to be too niche or not commercial enough – 10 Nights is a celebration of nuanced storytelling which will resonate with people regardless of their faith. With Ramadan just around the corner, this is a must-see play.