A hilarious and heartbreaking story of a young man wrestling with his father’s legacy and what it means to be a ‘good Muslim’, award winning writer, actor and comedian Osamah Sami brings the stage adaptation of his critically acclaimed memoir, Good Muslim Boy to the Malthouse Theatre from 14 February 2018.
Meet Osamah Sami: a schemer, a dreamer and a madcap antihero of spectacular proportions whose questionable life choices keep leading to cataclysmic consequences… despite his best laid plans.
By the age of 13, Osamah had survived the Iran–Iraq war, peddled fireworks and chewing gum on the Iranian black market, proposed ‘temporary marriage’ not once but three times, and received countless floggings from the Piety Police for trying to hold hands with girls in dark cinemas.
His father inspired him to believe that anything was possible, and he’s been testing the limits his entire life. He speaks six languages and has a black belt in taekwondo. He starred as Saddam Hussein in a musical comedy, then got mistaken for a terrorist at the airport in the USA.
Even in Australia, life has been eventful. He faked a perfect Year 12 score and acceptance into a University of Melbourne medical degree (and got away with it for a whole year) and escaped an arranged marriage by literally running away on his wedding day.
Directed by Malthouse Theatre’s 2016 Director in Residence, Janice Muller, this Kafkaesque tale makes light of spectacular absurdity and highlights the beautiful contradictions found at the cross currents of two cultures, and features Rodney Afif, Nicole Nabout and Osamah Sami.
Osamah Sami is an award-winning actor, writer, spoken word artist, and stand up comedian of Iraqi origin. His critically acclaimed book Good Muslim Boy was the winner of the 2016 NSW Premier’s Literary Award. It was also Highly Commended at the Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards that same year.
Sami also co wrote and starred in Ali’s Wedding – Australia’s first Muslim Rom-Com, which earned him an Australian Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay as well as a nomination for Best Lead Actor. His role as Amor in Melbourne Theatre Company’s production of I Call My Brothers earned him a Green Room nomination for Best Lead Actor. He has appeared in over a dozen film and theatre productions, including the lead opposite Claudia Karvan in Tony Ayres’ telemovie Saved.
“Good Muslim Boy stands out from the pack for its success in rendering the strange as familiar, and the familiar as deeply strange.” – The Australian
Director: Janice Muller Featuring: Rodney Afif, Nicole Nabout, Osamah Sami Set & Costume Design: Romanie Harper Lighting Design: Ben Hughes Sound Design & Composition: Phil Slade
Good Muslim Boy
Beckett Theatre – The Coopers Malthouse, 113 Sturt Street, Southbank
Season: 14 February – 11 March 2018 (previews: 9 – 13 February)
Information and Bookings: www.malthousetheatre.com.au
Image: Osamah Sami stars in Good Muslim Boy – photo by Zan Wimberley