LONDON: The UK’s Muslim Panto has announced its new production for the 2023/24 season, a mesmerizing adaptation of the timeless classic “Beauty and the Beast.”
Called “Beauty and the Balaah,” this humorous and enchanting tale reimagines the original story with a touch of cultural richness and symbolism that promises to resonate with audiences of all ages and backgrounds.
Performances of “Beauty and the Balaah” are in aid of Penny Appeal’s Winter Aid, a charitable initiative aimed at providing essential support to those in need, in areas including Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The work takes its inspiration from the beloved Disney classic, seamlessly integrating cultural nuances from the Muslim world while creating a unique blend of past and present.
Set in a picturesque village where the threads of tradition and modernity meet, the story introduces audiences to a spirited young girl named Aisha, played by Iman Akhtar from Glasgow.
The storyline follows a young prince, Balaah, who is transformed into a hideous creature by the benevolent Fairy Noor after succumbing to cruelty and greed under the influence of an evil wizard.
To break the curse and regain his human form, Balaah must learn to love and be loved in return. When Aisha courageously enters his enchanted castle, she discovers the goodness that lies beneath his monstrous exterior.
Joining Akhtar are Sabrina Nabi from Birmingham; Shehzad Ali Hussain from Luton; Noor Waheed from Staffordshire; Usman Farooqi from Manchester; and comedian Prince Abdi from Brixton.
The production is written and produced by the renowned actor and writer Abdullah Afzal, known for his work on the BBC’s “Citizen Khan.”
The pantomime embarks on a nationwide tour starting in early December, with up to 60 performances across the UK through January.
Following the success of the previous production “Cinder’aliyah,” which sold out within 48 hours of tickets going on sale, the new show is poised to captivate audiences with its unique blend of comedy and cultural resonance.
UK’s Muslim Panto unveils cast for upcoming production ‘Beauty and the Balaah’
https://arab.news/vgw5r
UK’s Muslim Panto unveils cast for upcoming production ‘Beauty and the Balaah’
- Performances of “Beauty and the Balaah” are in aid of Penny Appeal’s Winter Aid
- The work takes its inspiration from the beloved Disney classic
Tanzania opposition says 2,000 killed in election violence
- Opposition party Chadema’s deputy chairperson John Heche said Tanzania witnessed “mass killings of more than 2,000 people and over 5,000 injured in the space of just one week“
- The violence was carried out “with direct involvement of the state“
DAR ES SALAM: Tanzania’s main opposition party on Thursday said more than 2,000 people were killed in a week of election violence, calling for sanctions against officials it accused of crimes against humanity.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the winner of October 29 polls with 98 percent of the vote, but her government was accused of rigging the polls and overseeing a campaign of murders and abductions of her critics that sparked nationwide protests and riots.
Opposition party Chadema’s deputy chairperson John Heche told reporters that Tanzania witnessed “mass killings of more than 2,000 people and over 5,000 injured in the space of just one week.”
He said the violence was carried out “with direct involvement of the state” and that it amounted to “crimes against humanity.”
Previous opposition counts had put the deaths at more than 1,000. The government has not given a death toll.
Heche urged the international community to “impose sanctions on all individuals involved in planning and executing these acts of criminality and crimes against humanity.”
In a live online broadcast, he said those responsible should be subjected to travel bans, including restrictions on their families.
Heche also said the unrest triggered a surge of people fleeing the country, alongside “the abduction and enforced disappearance of hundreds of civilians.”
Chadema further accused security units of carrying out rapes, torture and “gruesome killings,” and of engaging in widespread looting and arbitrary arrests.
The party urged authorities to return the bodies of those killed so families could bury them.
Authorities have continued to stifle dissent, with planned protests earlier this week seeing empty streets and a significant security presence.
Hassan last week justified the killings, saying it was necessary to prevent the overthrow of the government.
“The force that was used corresponds to the situation at hand,” she said in a speech.
Hassan has formed an inquiry commission into the violence, which the opposition says includes only government loyalists, instead calling for an independent investigation.
