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The Diary of a Hounslow Girl
The Diary of a Hounslow Girl | Ambreen Razia
9 posts | 13 read | 2 to read
The story of a modern Asian young woman trying to straddle Western attitudes and traditional beliefs. You've heard of an Essex Girl or even a Chelsea Girl but what is a Hounslow Girl? The term has become a byword for confident, young Muslim women who are grappling with traditional values, city life and fashion. From the joys of Pakistani weddings to fights on the night bus, Ambreen Razia's The Diary of a Hounslow Girl is a funny, bold, provocative play highlighting the challenges of being a teenage girl in a traditional Muslim family, alongside the temptations and influences of growing up in and around London. Ambreens writing is poetic in its structure and intensity, funny, moving, chilling, and delivered in a style that takes inspiration from spoken word and physical theatre. She has created a rhythm that draws the audience in, as compelling as a thriller, complete with gathering ominousness, shocks and comic relief. Deborah Bestwick, Director, Ovalhouse Ambreen Razias terrific play is exactly the kind of new work we wish to support in the new home of multi-cultural theatre in London. Hounslow Girl is a wonderfully funny take on a London phenomenon and one audiences will enjoy. Jatinder Verma, Artistic Director, Tara Arts "a powerful piece of theatre... Ambreen Razia's performance is astonishing." BritishTheatre.com "This is a sophisticated, moving and often very funny piece of writing, particularly nuanced in its depiction of Shaheeda's relationship with her mother ... astute in tackling the breakdown of the loving bonds between parent and child that can occur when a child becomes a teenager and also how this experience can be magnified for the children of first-generation immigrants, whose parents feel distant from their childrens British lives... Razia's script touches on everything from first love to cultural expectations to student-teacher relationships; its a bit like an inner-city version of An Education." The Stage Ambreen Razia is an actress and writer from South London. The Diary of a Hounslow Girl is Ambreen's debut show which premiered at Ovalhouse in 2015. Passionate about re-establishing British Asian comedy within the UK, she continues to write her comedy sketch show involving two British Asian girls exploring the clash between traditional Indian/Pakistani culture and modern British life. She is also currently writing her next play POT primarily focusing on the recent comeback of gang culture within the UK. Performance credits include: On the Middle Day (Old Vic Theatre); Words and Women (Edinburgh Fringe); Random Acts (Channel 4); Fair Exchange (Hen and Chickens Theatre); Variations on a Theme (Camden People's Theatre); Mind the Gap (National Theatre); No Guts, No Heart, No Glory (BBC4/Perth Festival Australia) and Murdered by my Father (BBC3).
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DMC_run8
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Pickpick

I enjoyed the audio book (read by the author). She really gave life to this character. That being said, I'm not sure if I would have enjoyed reading a hard copy as much. 4⭐️

I'm finding it very difficult to read since my mom passed away several weeks ago but I seem to be able to digest books in audio format. It is what it is

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Crinoline_Laphroaig
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Pickpick

I'm Instagram friends w/someone from Hounslow & she recommended. Thanks to her pics & my memories of driving through on the way to Kew Gardens (it caught my attention because of Bend It Like Beckham) I could picture scene in my mind. Short but powerful listen.
Also heroine wants to come to US and drive Rt 66. Living near it here in Oklahoma I forget it's a thing. 🚗

marleed Haha. Route 66 was literally the street my in-laws lived on in Bourbon Mo. I would try to point out how cool that was to my kids. They didn‘t get at. When my son was 19 at at a family reunion (2 twins living next door to each other on Route 66 with a massive shared lawn), an artsy Parisian boyfriend of a cousin could not stop taking pics of the road and the Route 66 signs. ...That‘s what it took for my son to get it! 4y
Crinoline_Laphroaig @marleed What a great story! 😆 4y
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LoverofLit
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Pickpick

I really thoroughly enjoyed listening to this one woman #play written and performed by Ambreen Razia. Tackling big themes like coming of age, young love, being a child of an immigrant, etc. there was so much in here to hold your breath about. I loved the author interview at the end. My first play I've listened to and I was impressed! The only complaint was it was tough to hear at certain points.
#ReadingWomenChallenge

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Andrea313
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Pickpick

I listened to this on my commute over the last couple of days, and finished it today. I really enjoyed the entire thing, but particularly the interview with the author at the end of the #audiobook. The theatrical bent of these short #AudibleOriginals (After Anatevka Live with Alexandra Silber, Girls and Boys read by Carey Mulligan) is just the thing for this theatre kid. #readmoreplays #currentlylistening

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RBrandehoff
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Mehso-so

This play tackles many issues & gives voice to individuals long silenced. For this, I appreciated the work; however (and perhaps this is part of the genius that I under appreciated), the protagonist is scattered & frantic & managing many adult scenarios in 90 minutes, which is exhausting. The playwright beautifully captures the voice of a 16yo but it‘s exhausting to listen to & I had to split up the audio in order to capture the bigger picture.

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MissMary
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I absolutely loved this book!! I was glued to the storyline. -Audible Originals- This is a must for any audible fans.

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AmCheri

Time for one of the free Audible originals for December.

AmCheri If it had been longer, I would have bailed. I think I might be too old to appreciate a rage-filled 16 year-Old young woman with a large sense of entitlement. The snippets of culture that snuck in we‘re good though. 5y
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Lea
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Pickpick

This was interesting. The audio production wasn‘t awesome but the story was interesting. It‘s a play so I think that‘s important to keep in mind. It‘s a look at one girl‘s story growing up how and where she is and how that impacts her decisions and thought processes. #readwomen #diversereads

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Caterina
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Today's #migraineread, a one-woman play that's one of the free Audible Originals for members this month. #audibleoriginal #migraineandaudiobook #litsymigraineclub