Creators: Poppy Jay and Rubina Pabani
Directors: Sam Hodges and Aneesha Srinivasan
The creative pair behind this production started their podcast back in 2019 to bring their honest chats about sex, sexuality and life as young second-generation brown women from traditional Muslim families to an audience. At the time they thought that this audience would be a few girls in Bradford and hid their identities behind large sunglasses in their online image. But now on BBC Asian Network and having won the main prize at the British Podcast Awards 2020, a packed year with lockdown, and the Asian Media Award 2021, they have now bought some of their banter and comedy to the stage.
Set in a 90’s girls’ bedroom, the typical teenage posters of the era align with the demographic of the listenership. But on press night the audience is in for an extra special treat as Poppy Jay has many of her sisters and cousins in, adding to the warm cosy chat feel of the performance. Jay is joined on stage by her close friend and confidant Rubina Pabina and from the outset the chemistry between the two is obvious, immediately making everyone feel at ease and feel part of the show. The show itself is a mixture of explicit chat mixed with comedy segways, sketches, songs and dance all delivered with humour.
The audience is on board with the talk of first orgasms, masturbation, and whom they fancy. The audience is also happy to explore more off-limit issues within their community, crushes and sexual relationships with boys from outside their community and the casual misogyny of growing up in a strict Muslim household where you are not allowed to play outside after the age of eight and instead are beholden to the kitchen. The loudest murmur through the crowd is in recognition of when watching a film starring a brown woman, it was the white girl they wanted to be.
Racism toward and within the community is tackled with equal light and depth. There is a running sketch called The Coconut Crisis Hotline that callers can ring to confess their shameful breaking of the cultural code to be slammed with the harsh judgement that they would have got from their many Aunties.
The body and colour shaming and its effect on mental health is a theme running through this show and the damaging results that stretch well into adulthood. In another segment, advice is handed out to quandaries taken from the audience. The two women also tackle straight on the trolling they have received from, let’s face it, men, from their community as their fame has grown.
The two women manage to pack so much humour, radiating warmth and intimate closeness in such an honest way in under 90 minutes that it’s the kind of show you don’t want to end. There will be a constant smile on your face as you laugh along as it’s just so joyful and empowering and not just for its demographic. It’s surprising that there isn’t already a visible queer South Asian fanbase in the audience.
The show ends on a poignant note with the two women reading out heartfelt letters to their mothers about what they wish their relationships would be if there were not so much emphasis on shaming within their community. This conclusion is especially emotionally tough with all Jay’s family listening on and you get a real deep understanding of the depth of hurt and ongoing trauma felt in this community.
Runs until 10 June 2023
