From Bristol to Tehran and back again, Bobak invites the audience on a journey to accept his own heritage, in the face of a hostile western media...
As the ominous growth of Reform continues to increasingly blot the political landscape, the noise surrounding the demonisation of immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers only seems to get louder.
It is both refreshing and heartening in equal measure then, to witness an entirely different take on proceedings, which engages, entertains and provokes thought simultaneously.
Bobak Champion is a second generation Iranian raised in Bristol who combines his passion for hip-hop, street dance and the saxophone with his pride in his heritage and all the encompassing culture it evokes.
On tour with a show, which first achieved national garlands at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2023, Bobak’s one hour performance is a smorgasbord of interweaving music, dance, spoken word and light as he regales the audience with tales from his childhood to completing the first ever Tehran Marathon.
As the traditional (Persian teas, cakes, candles) and modern (his marathon jersey and medal) flank either side of the stage, Bobak enters and immediately blends Farsi with a smattering of colloquial English phrases as he gets to know the audience - even coaxing a couple of game front rowers up to re-enact traditional Iranian dances.
Salvation comes in the form of the local b-boy crews
The meet and greets over, he then rolls back to the year when he was a child picked on for his unusual name and skin colour at school. Salvation comes in the form of the local b-boy crews he quickly ingratiates himself with, spending most nights popping locks and windmilling in the clubs and pubs of his native Bristol.
Depressingly, thanks to the rise of the English Defence League, the taunts of his childhood follow him into his adult years and he retells tales of nighttime abuse by ill-informed regulars.
Humour is never too far from the surface though as he debunks baseless opinions by spinning their lies back upon themselves.
While the story of his return to Iran to take part in the aforementioned marathon is laced with the all-too-shocking revelation of women being banned from taking part at the last moment before a section of male runners heroically surround one courageous female athlete as they run to ensure she isn’t spotted by eagle eyed guards.
The production comes to a close with the arrival of two local b-boys who supplement Bobak’s impressive moves and core strength nonchalantly. All in all, it’s quite the sensory pricking experience, which makes you thankful and despair intermittently throughout. Well worth further investigation.
I’m Muslamic, Don’t Panik played at Lakeside Arts Theatre on Thursday 26 February.
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