The P Word @ Bush Theatre Review

The P Word is an accomplished political play about the hostile environment faced by LGBTQ+ asylum seekers. Raucously funny and unapologetically problematic Waleed Akhtar’s two-hander tells the story of two Pakistani gay men in their thirties whose lives collide at Pride. Throughout the play, audience members hummed in satisfaction at the wit, the humour, the political resonance, and sheer humanity that transcends borders and sexuality. A play I will certainly be seeing again before the end of this short run 22 October, but no doubt will be revived time and time again. There are plays you see that mark a pivotal moment in a nation’s history, The P Word is one of these plays.

Courtesy of Craig Fuller.

Zafar is an asylum seeker on the run from an execution ordered by his own father in Pakistan for his sexuality and Bilal (or Billy as he prefers to be called) is a British citizen who has never been in a relationship and angling for a promotion at work where he is the only person of colour. Zafar’s is a story that is full of heartache, and Bilal’s in want of meaning. Despite their many differences the two become good friends. This is a love story we all know but it doesn’t make it any less gripping to watch.

Akhtar is skilled at using very little to drive the narrative. The rotating set is simple and in-the-round with two slanted half-moons intersecting like the lives of the two protagonists. Costume is simple too with only two changes that I can recall. Scenes are painted deftly – with only a few words and ambient sounds we are pulled into Zafar and Bilal’s world: from Pakistan to Hounslow to Soho to Brighton to Heathrow to Portsmouth. Other characters speak naturalistically through the two characters or voiced by speakers. Props similarly are used sparingly. It is the mark of a great writer to let the words do most of the work and a great director to know how much production is needed, or not needed, to bring the work to life. Stripped back, the writing was able to sparkle and the focus from the audience was entirely on its delivery.

Performances by Waleed Akthar, the writer himself, playing Bilal and Esh Alladi playing Zafar were phenomenal. Zafar was instantly lovable in his musings on British ways and relatable in his heartbreak. Alladi was standout in his ability to go from pulling heartstrings to delivering punchlines. Akthar was brilliant at playing the archetypical anti-woke Asian bad boy flinging around the P word with frustrating disregard of the words violence.

As a queer South Asian Londoner, I found such joy in the small references to the habit of taking your shoes off when coming into someone’s home and the throwaway comments which reveal the complexity of belonging when you’re a queer Muslim. When Zafar is suspicious his hijabi GP will turn on him should she know his sexuality he throws a Shakespearean aside of acknowledging the hypocrisy of “judging me while I judge her.” It was so wonderful to be seen and celebrated, so much so I was not moved at the bleakest of moments but during the most joyful because they have been hidden from our society too long. The cheesy Bollywood scene had me smiling so hard my mouth hurt. This is a highly accomplished piece of writing with expert direction, and I look forward to seeing more from Waleed Akhtar and Director Anthony Simpson-Pike.

By Tasnim Siddiqa Amin.

Follow Tasnim on Instagram: @tsiddiqaamin & WordPress.

The P Word is currently showing until Saturday 22nd october 2022 at the Bush Theatre. To find out more about the production, visit here…

Written by Theatrefullstop