Now that all the children’s television programmes are shown on dedicated channels I don’t stumble across them any more, so no getting sidetracked by Horrible Histories, which is one of the best, funniest and most informative things available for any age group. I mention that because Planet Omar, although aimed at the age range 7+, was an uplifting, well written and acted play tackling issues relevant to people of all ages, and coming to the conclusion which Basil Fawlty would term as ‘the bleeding obvious’. The problem is that world rulers, leaders of factions and people who blindly follow them, are so busy trying to obliterate those who disagree with them, that they have forgotten that we have far more things in common than divide us.
Omar, Justin Kendal-Sadiq gets an annoying facial tweak from Mum, Aizah Khan. Why do all mums do that?
The eponymous Omar is an 8 year-old Pakistani boy whose family moves house from inner city Whitechapel to affluent Harrow when his mother, a scientist engaged in cancer research, has been given her dream job meaning they are able to rise a few rungs up the social ladder. The consequence of this is that he has to change schools, something which had not particularly bothered him until he turned up on the first day and was harassed by the class bully, Daniel. He teamed up with another misfit, Charlie, whose vocabulary only seemed to stretch to ‘OK’, but who took him under his wing and gave him advice as to how to avoid Daniel’s wrath. Fortunately the teacher, Mrs Hutchinson was a good soul and tried to look after Omar, but the more she did this, the more aggressive Daniel became.
Mrs Hutchinson, Joanna Holden and Omar, Justin Kendal-Sadiq
Not only did Omar’s colour and religion single him out at school, but the family’s new neighbour, Mrs Rodgers, a single, elderly lady, didn’t know how to respond either and so ignored them as much as she could, despite them calling with a box of chocolates as an introductory gift for her. In an amusing incident later on, Mrs Rodgers tried to make amends by buying the family a box of chocolates in return, which was a wonderful gesture, except that she had chosen to push the boat out and treat them to some chocolate liqueurs -containing alcohol. Oops!
Fortunately the family was a tight knit unit with older sister, Maryam, who liked playing football and young brother, who was just a toddler. Dad was also a scientist and everyone got together each week for a Science Sunday, when one of the parents would impress the children by conducting an experiment on the kitchen table.
Izzy Coward – operating Little Brother – Maryam, Emaan Durrani and Omar, Justin Kendal-Sadiq, watching Mum, Aizah Khan, and Dad, Umar Butt, show what can be done with two plastic bottles and a lot of water.
Just when it seemed that the situations with the neighbour and the bully would be the norm, a couple of incidents changed everything. Firstly, Mrs Rodgers had an accident and an ambulance was called, arriving just as Omar and the family were arriving home from the mosque. Mum went to see if there was anything she could do and ended up accompanying her neighbour to the hospital and staying with her to make sure she was alright. The other was a school trip to the Science Museum during which Omar and Daniel, who had been paired together, became cut off from the rest of the class. Daniel became distressed but Omar took control and led him outside until they came across the mosque in Baker Street, where his mother had taken him a few weeks before. They went in and the imam rang for Mum to come and collect the pair.
From then onward Mrs Rodgers became a regular visitor to the house, especially after she had developed a taste for Pakistani food, and Daniel mellowed and explained to Omar that he felt neglected at home as his little sister was very ill and required several operations, causing his parents to devote most of their time to her. Once this secret was shared, Daniel stopped the bullying and racial remarks which had led Omar to believe that he would be sent back to Pakistan, obviously causing him great distress. On a visit with his mother to thank Omar’s parents for rescuing Daniel, he apologised in front of her and after being castigated, he promised there would be no repeat.
If the above sounds very simplistic it was. The thing which set it apart was the way in which the characters were portrayed. It wasn’t only Omar needing to adjust to his new situation, but also Daniel, Charlie and Mrs Rodgers, who found it hard to adapt, and were shown as much empathy by the writer, Zanib Mian, adapter, Asia Khan and director, Sameena Hussain. as he was. Because of her footballing prowess, Maryam slotted right in, illustrating the old cliché that those from minority groups are accepted as long as they are entertainers or sportspeople improving the lot of the native population. Someone, like Omar’s mum, who is brilliant at a low profile, but far more important, profession than football, acting or singing, none of which has ever found a cure for cancer, is treated with disdain.
The best way to overcome prejudice and suspicion is by learning about the unfamiliar lifestyles of those involved, which here was done in a similar, if somewhat more muted, fashion than the aforementioned Horrible Histories.
The post-reconciliation Eid party with Omar, Justin Kendal-Sadiq, attempting to impress by trying, and miserably failing, to break dance. The amused bystanders are Charlie, Izzy Coward; Daniel, Emaan Durrani; Mum, Aizah Khan, holding baby brother; Dad, Umar Butt and Mrs Rodgers, Joanna Holden.
The timing of the action was relevant in that it was set in the last few days of Ramadan leading up to Eid Mubarak, the blow-out after the fasting month. As the family became acquainted with Mrs Rodgers and Daniel and his mother, they exchanged information as to their lives, Daniel’s has already been covered, but Omar’s family drip fed snippets of information as the play went on regarding what they were – and were not – permitted to do regarding religious practices. I worked in Bradford for thirty years in a career which meant that I was calling on the citizens of that city on a regular basis, sometimes up to twenty visits per day, so I have probably been to more Islamic homes and business premises than a lot of Muslims. On one occasion, I was invited to join a family celebrating Eid, and although I tried to familiarise myself with the protocols involved, so as not to unintentionally offend, there were things in this play which came as news to me. For example I didn’t realise that children were not compelled to observe the fasting element of Ramadan. Omar gave it a try but was overcome by pangs of hunger before sunset, so his father explained that he would not be looked upon unfavourably by Allah for eating, in fact he would have been admired for attempting to observe the fast at all.
Omar, Justin Kendal-Sadiq becoming obsessed by food during his attempted fast.
In addition to the lifestyle differences between the Christian and Muslim children, there were the reassuringly common parts of their lives. Omar dreamed of monsters, travelling through the universe on a spaceship and he had an imaginary friend in a dragon called H2O, although with a name like that I would have thought that breathing fire was a bit of a problem.
Should you fancy a really uplifting visit to the theatre, as well as an educational one, you should definitely go see this wonderful show.
Planet Omar is a Leeds Playhouse production and runs until 25th April. For more details and to book, please go to https://www.leedsplayhouse.org.uk/event/planet-omar/
Should you live in London or Birmingham, the play is calling at Unicorn Theatre from 21st May to 7th June, and Birmingham Rep from 17th to 21st June.
To find out what else is happening at Leeds Playhouse it is https://www.leedsplayhouse.org.uk/whats-on/
Photographs by Robling Pix.
Tyke It To The Limit 