Hijabi Monologues coming to Ballymun

DRAMA will be used to break down stereotypes and assumptions around Muslim women in Ireland through the staging of the ‘Hijabi Monologues’ in Ballymun’s Axis Theatre.

Women are being invited to submit personal, true stories for the production, which is being co-hosted by the Immigrant Council of Ireland, the British Council and Axis Theatre, Ballymun and will focus on the lives of Muslim women in Ireland.

The Ballymun performance next April is a licensed production of the hit show which has been touring in the United States to critical acclaim and great success over the past six years.

Denise Charlton, CEO of the Immigrant Council of Ireland, said is was important that the voices of Muslim women in Ireland be heard.

“Over 49,000 Muslims now call Ireland home,

? she said.

“They are playing a positive role in our society and are active in every part of Irish life. The aim of this production is to reflect that reality and to break down misconceptions which people may have about the Muslim community.

“Through the Hijabi Monologues we want to shift the focus away from the headscarf and instead focus on the women who make up the diverse Irish Muslim community.

“We will reflect their wide-ranging views on faith, education, class, Irish life and many other areas.

“We are now asking women, Muslim and non-Muslim alike, those who wear the hijab and those who do not, to come forward and tell us their stories. We would encourage them to contact us at the Immigrant Council if they would like to submit their story. We believe they will offer experiences which women of other faiths and of no faith will relate to.

“It is these experiences which will define Hijabi Monologues in Ireland and hopefully provide a platform for Ireland to explore issues which have caused division and conflict in other parts of Europe.

?

Niamh Ni Chonchubhair of Axis, Ballymun welcomed the show to the theatre.

“Storytelling is one of our richest traditions, one we share with many communities and one that is a major strand of our programme,

“she said.

“Axis is delighted to be staging The Hijabi Monologues with the Immigrant Council of Ireland and to be celebrating these unique voices as part of a new, shared tradition.”