Guest Blog: Can Theatre Create Religious Cohesion?

Religion and theatre rarely come together without creating a gust of controversy. The most high-profile example would be Behzti, a play set in a Sikh temple which caused riotous protests in 2004, forcing the production to close prematurely. The uproar fuelled endless debate about censorship, religion and the arts. There’s no doubt that it’s often a contentious and sensitive partnership, but can religion and theatre come together to create cohesion as opposed to conflict?

I first came across the MUJU crew last year when they were rehearsing for their Extreme Prevention show. Formed in 2004, the original MUJU crew are a group of Muslim and Jewish youths who came together in the name of art. Their show Extreme Prevention was a collection of comedy sketches created in response to the government’s Prevent agenda. They bravely challenged stereotypes and the often patronising approach adopted by the government to curb terrorism with hilarious consequences. But, the most striking element of the show was the audience. Members of the two faith groups sat side by side in the name of theatre. It’s was a rare sight.

The MUJU Crew have since extended their remit with MUJU Upstarts, a community outreach project which looks to locate and nurture new talent within the two communities. Their first production, Harissa, was recently performed in the James Baldwin Studio at the Tricycle Theatre. The play told the story of Khaled Abdul Wahab, a Tunisian Muslim who saved Jewish families following the Nazi occupation during World War II. Although the production leaned towards amateur dramatics, it did show stirrings of talent and creativity. The powerful story, however, is the real coup. With the stigma attached to these two communities, we are seldom exposed to stories in which the two are united through humanity and sacrifice.

These stories were brought to the group by Faith Matters, an organisation which aims to ease tension between faith groups. Speaking at the end of the play, Esmond Rosen of the Jewish Volunteering Network (who collaborated with Faith Matters) spoke of the importance of staging sich stories. He stated that it was necessary to “break myths, prejudices and stereotype so we can start a proper discussion, narrative on what divides us and brings us together.”

The MUJU crew are clearly not just a cause, but an example of how theatre can provide a platform which enables the group to explore and express the complexities of their relationship to one another. They act as proof that there are stories to be told that can unite and that theatre can do more to create social cohesion than any other initiative.

MUJU, thankfully, don’t preach or present solutions for a happily-ever-after. They explore, create and perform on a stage built on mutual respect and acceptance. You do leave MUJU’s shows with the feeling that you’ve been part of something special. And the best theatre does, after all, inspire and challenge. Now all they need is some funding to ensure their stories travel further afield.

– Amardeep Sohi is a freelance arts journalist and theatre critic.