Theatre Review: Liberation Squares - A Double Perspective

Content Warnings: Liberation Squares includes references to racism, Islamophobia, and colonial violence.

Perspective One: Ilina Jha

Liberation Squares would seem, at first, to be nothing more than a funny social commentary on the lives of teenage schoolgirls. Best friends Ruqaya (Vaneeka Dadhria) and Sabi (Asha Hassan) face a rift when Ruqaya strikes up a friendship with teenage TikTok star Xara (Halema Hussain), whom Sabi distrusts. Add to this beatboxing, schoolbus bullies, and attempts to go viral on TikTok, and it’s pretty much just a day in the life of a 21^st-century teenager. But when Xara and Ruqaya are questioned as part of the government’s Prevent programme, the play takes a darker, political edge. Suddenly, petty issues of schools, disagreements, and friendship rifts become irrelevant. How do teenagers stand up to a system with Islamophobia and racism at its heart? United by their anger at the injustice, Xara, Ruqaya, and Sabi join forces to reclaim their narratives and fight against Prevent.

How do teenagers stand up to a system with Islamophobia and racism at its heart?

Playwright Sonali Bhattacharyya was commissioned to write Liberation Squares by Fifth Word in 2020, and she explains her motivation to explore the issues of the Prevent programme through teenage girls: ‘I wanted to write a play about the incredible imagination, inquisitiveness and creativity teenagers have […]. Right now, we’re witnessing rapidly normalised Islamophobia and racism, including in government policies like the Prevent surveillance programme, and I wanted to explore how this inhibits young people’s confidence, freedom of expression, and even their futures. I wanted to tell this story through the points of view of young people themselves, with all of the joyful spirit of rebellion that entails!’

Liberation Squares is firmly rooted in teenage popular culture

Bhattacharyya certainly succeeds in capturing the ‘spirit of [teenage] rebellion.’ Liberation Squares is firmly rooted in teenage popular culture, with references to Moon Girl, Ms. Marvel, and Kendrick Lamar, and the characters are frequently seen watching or recording videos on TikTok. However, such tools influence their mode of rebellion – in an attempt to find information on them that has been hidden, they engage in a heist that makes them feel like the ‘ninjas’ that Ruqaya insists Moon Girl and Ms. Marvel are, and they use their social medium of choice – TikTok – to air their anger at the injustice of the Prevent programme. These feel like real teenagers, with real teenage problems, real teenage confusion, and real teenage rebellion.

A painfully urgent piece of theatre

All the actresses shine in their roles. Dadhira brings a great energy to her role as enthusiastic beatboxer Ruqaya – indeed, she records herself beatboxing and mixes it up to create a soundscape for Liberation Squares that reflects these dancing, rapping, passionate teenagers. The set is well-designed to encompass a range of settings, with moveable whiteboards being used to help indicate the characters’ locations.

Overall, Liberation Squares is a funny play that takes seriously the political issues at its heart. With the increasing surveillance of Prevent, alongside governmental restriction of protest rights, Liberation Squares is a painfully urgent piece of theatre.

Rating: 4/5

Perspective Two: Halima Ahad

Liberation Squares is a paramount show which has never been more necessary in the present time. I was excited going into the show and left with a fire ignited in my soul, a passion which needed to be explored further. As we walked into the auditorium, AP Dhillon (a famous Punjabi rapper) was blasting in the background which made me even more excited.

Although there were technical difficulties at the beginning of the show, the actresses didn’t fail to keep the audience hooked. The show began with some beatboxing fun as Dadhria threw some beats at the audience whilst we clapped along. I commend all three actresses as they never failed to put a smile on my face after the technical mishaps.

Although there were technical difficulties at the beginning of the show, the actresses didn’t fail to keep the audience hooked

The comedic element of the actresses really stood out to me. Ruqaya’s constant, light hearted jokes and funny dance moves never fail to make the audience laugh. Although there are serious elements in the play, Ruqaya’s humour brought in the gimmicky element, showing her significance in Liberation Squares.

The show relies heavily on the audience’s imagination. Whiteboards in the background, as well as lighting elements, play a key role as they create fascinating images in your mind. I also love the modern-day elements throughout the whole play; it feels so real amongst all the props and acting. The use of the phone prop stands out, mirroring its role in society today. We don’t often realise the detrimental impact of technology and social media, and the consequences they can bring.

The show relies heavily on the audience’s imagination

However, the play also made me heavily question the role of politics in society today and how it impacts young ethnic minorities, in this case young Muslim women. It’s heartbreaking to see Xara questioned for simply standing up for her human rights and freedom of expression through her use of social media.

Overall, Liberation Squares is a fantastic watch. I have learnt so much about myself as a young Muslim woman through watching this play. Standing up for yourself and your rights, especially through the rights of protest, has never been more important in society today, and Liberation Squares shouts this loudly and proudly.