How can you tell if your neighbour is speaking Muslim? Is a mosque a kind of hedgehog? Can I get fries with that burka? You can’t trust the media any longer, but there’s no need to fret: this comedy extravaganza will attempt to answer all your questions.

Join critically acclaimed, prize-winning comedians Omar Hamdi, Esther Manito and Amrou Al-Kadhi for some stand-up comedy and a chance to ask questions of your own. The event will take a lively look at what the arts and comedy can do to combat stereotypes and regressive identity politics.

It will feature outtakes from Don’t Panic I’m Islamic: Words and Pictures on How to Stop Worrying and Learn to Love the Alien Next Door. The book is published by Saqi Books (in partnership with Arts Council England and the Arab British Centre) and is a response to President Trump’s ‘Muslim ban’.

UPDATE: Due to a change in travel plans Amrou Al-Kadhi will be replaced by playwright Hassan Adulrazzak. The journalist, broadcaster and film-maker Bidisha (who also contributed to the book) will chair the evening. 

Speakers

Omar Hamdi is a Welsh-Egyptian TV presenter, comedian and writer. He has performed at festivals and events around the world and won a BAFTA among other awards.

Esther Manito is an up and coming Lebanese-British comedian. She has been listed as ‘One to watch’ 2016 by Funny Women and has performed stand-up at Edinburgh Fringe.

Amrou Al-Kadhi is a British-Iraqi writer, performer, filmmaker and drag queen. He performs with musical comedy drag troupe Denim, and is currently working on a comedy TV series and a feature film which are in development with Channel 4 and the BBC.

UPDATE: Due to a change in travel plans Amrou Al-Kadhi will be replaced by Hassan Adulrazzak. The journalist, broadcaster and film-maker Bidisha (who also contributed to the book) will chair the evening:

Hassan Abdulrazzaki is an Iraqi playwright and writer. He was born in Prague and studied molecular biology at university, obtaining a PhD from University College London in 1999. He has written a number of plays including Baghdad Wedding (2007), The Prophet (2012), Dhow Under The Sun, Catalina (both performed in 2015), Love, Bombs & Apples (2016), And Here I Am (2017).

Bidisha is a British writer, film-maker and broadcaster/presenter for the BBC TV and radio, Channel 4 and Sky. She is chair of judges for the 2018 Forward Prizes for poetry and has just directed her first short film, An Impossible Poison, which premiered at the Breaking Ground festival in Berlin in November 2017. Her poetry has been published by Wasafiri magazine, Seagull Books, Saqi Books, English PEN and Young MWA magazine.