Passing

Passing, a new solo theatre work featuring the lovely Sahra Hamadi, explores the intersectionality of race, gender and sexuality through Islamic and queer culture. Written by Hamadi and director Angela Dolan, it tells of the experience of a young Algerian/Australian girl, who people assume to be white, growing up in Australia.

This mostly auto-biographical piece blends scripted scenes, with physical theatre and some wonderfully frank, direct address to the audience, as Sahra Hamadi describes her experiences as a “Muslim-ish” young woman, who is both bi-racial and bi-sexual.

The story is riveting, and a gives perspective we don’t often hear. “Passing” allows her to hear the insults directed towards Islam and Africans, as people assume that she is white, and as a person who has grown up Islamic, she is a rarity in the LGBTQI community.

Sahra is a warm, dynamic, engaging and sensitive performer who won her audience completely. She has a physical beauty that shines, but she is attractive in a way that comes from a lovely sense of self - rare in any twenty year old, but especially interesting in a young woman who is talking about her struggles with self-identity.

It was a little difficult to hear at times, over a struggling air-conditioner and street noise, but the audience just leant in closer and this did not detract from the experience.

Passingis a sweet and very special show, and it would be lovely to see it taken to schools, Girl Guide companies and youth groups. A little gem.

Kimberley Shaw

Links to more Fringe World 2018 Reviews.