Directed by Parramatta-born Seppy Bagaei, ‘Daytime Deewane’ is a play that follows two young cousins – one quiet and one wild – through the daytime rave scene of 1990s London.
The two ravers, Farhan and Sadiq, are torn between respect and rebellion as they navigate culture and what it means to be a good Muslim boy and a proper British man.
“The daytime rave scene was this incredible hidden scene where the South Asian diaspora would come together and take over clubs during the daytime from 3pm to 6pm before it turned into the usual nightclub scene,” Bagaei explained.
“They would use it as an opportunity to play their music with their people and celebrate their culture.
“In the ‘90s, racism was a lot more overt, and in some cases people of the Asian diaspora weren’t allowed in the same space as non-Asian British people, so there was a real need to come together and have a safe space to be themselves, express themselves, and celebrate their culture.”
Racism and identity are huge topics to tackle in one hour and 10 minutes, but playwright Azan Ahmed has created a merry piece of theatrical storytelling.
“There is so much music, dancing, and celebration of culture in amongst this difficult political landscape,” the director stated.
“What Azan has done so beautifully is allow poetry and music to really bring these young men to life in a joyous, fun way.”
The music in question is called Bhangra.
“We’ve been doing sessions with an amazing choreographer, and she’s been teaching us about how Bhangra can look easy on the outside in the way the body is moving, but it’s actually quite demanding,” Bagaei explained.
“It’s in your feet, it’s in your arms, it’s in the whole body. The music itself is a great beat, and I think audiences will be grooving along to the Bhangra music.”
The cast and creatives of ‘Daytime Deewane’ have enjoyed stepping back in time to bring the piece to life.
“It’s a really fun trip back in time because I was born in the ‘90s,” Bagaei said.
“It’s been such a highlight to step back into that time capsule and to direct a show that’s proudly spotlighting brown men and brown stories – especially in Parramatta which has such a big South Asian community.
“It’s really special to see these stories on stage that I didn’t see growing up 20 years ago. It’s so great to see that change happening to reflect our community in Parramatta.”
Experience the toe-tapping addictiveness of Bhangra and the immersive world of the daytime rave scene until October 25 by booking a ticket online at https://riversideparramatta.com.au.
Ally Hall joined the team 2024, and focuses on entertainment and community stories. She is a graduate of the University of South Australia.