IF I HAD A GIRL... to Play Sold-Out Run at Citizens Theatre This Week

IF I HAD A GIRL... will play a sold-out run, 14th -16th April 2016, with one preview on 13th April, at Circle Studio, Citizens Theatre, 119 Gorbals Street, Glasgow, G5 9DS.

Written by Mariem Omari and directed by Umar Ahmed, IF I HAD A GIRL... features Shabana Bakhsh, Louise Haggerty, Storm Skyler McClure, Rehanna MacDonald and Manjot Sumal.

Taking risks and challenging cultural stereotypes, IF I HAD A GIRL... is a play about how the choices we make, the families we are born into, and the expectations of others shape our lives irrevocably.

With a focus on honour-based violence in the Asian community in Scotland, IF I HAD A GIRL... is told through the words of survivors - those women whose voices are often silenced or stolen.

"Honour violence is on the increase in Scotland, but for the most part, it is being ignored, or worse, covered up," said Writer, Mariem Omari. "It's very easy to pretend that this type of violence is somebody else's problem, so work like IF I HAD A GIRL... brings people from our community face-to-face with an uncomfortable reality that exists right here in Scotland," she added.

Attracting a talented and professional cast of actors from across the UK, Director, Umar Ahmed, was drawn to this work for both professional and personal reasons. With his roots in Pakistan, he grew up in Scotland, and has a firsthand understanding of the challenges of a duel culture and identity.

"We've abandoned the traditional form of verbatim theatre that many audiences are used to when it comes to this type of work. And instead we used a very physical and raw approach to tell the stories of these women and men," said Umar.

IF I HAD A GIRL...is the result of a unique partnership between these independent artists and Amina - Muslim Women's Resource Centre. Amina, under its Violence Against Women Programme, has chosen this innovative approach to raising awareness of honour-based violence and domestic abuse in the community. Through the use of storytelling and theatre, Amina hopes to change attitudes and opinions in the community to long held destructive beliefs about honour.

IF I HAD A GIRL...premieres at the Citizens Theatre, Glasgow, and will tour Scotland later in the year.