Waswasa was a theatrical show that Soul City Arts delivered during the Birmingham 2022 Festival at the Birmingham Hippodrome.
Led by founder and director of Soul City Arts, Mohammed Ali, it brought together a visual art experience together with projected film and live performance telling a unique story about prayer and worship in a secular society. A replica of the famous Birmingham Qur’an manuscript, considered to be one of the world’s oldest, was integrated into the show as a concluding exhibit. The show boldly explored faith in a form rarely seen before, by using Ali’s trademark immersive and cinematic aesthetic form.
Seeking to demystify the act of Islamic prayer, Waswasa asked fundamental questions about achieving a higher state of focus or ‘flow state’ amidst the distractions of modern society. In a series of workshops, Ali took these questions and invited University of Birmingham students to explore how we get to that place of ‘being in the zone’ where we perform the best and create the best.
It is now more crucial than ever to respond differently, bringing the arts and education together to create opportunities for learning and growth that go beyond traditional approaches, bringing new perspectives and ways of thinking. Together we can create a more brilliant world, one that is characterised by innovation, creativity, and a deep appreciation for the richness and diversity of human experience.
Chair of Shakespeare Studies and Fellow
Biographical and contact information for Professor Ewan Fernie in the Shakespeare Institute at the University of Birmingham.
