Since Ali Died

Since Ali Died

Rapper, poet, and award-winning author Omar Musa hits the stage in Sydney this month with his play Since Ali Died. The show places songs from his hip-hop album of the same name into what he calls a “one-man play.”

“I just wanted to bring the album to life in a different way and I thought that would be a really creative way of doing it, and something that I don’t think I’ve seen before in Australia” explains Musa.

Inspired by the passing of his personal hero, boxer Muhammad Ali, Musa tells a personal and political story of his experience growing up as a brown-skinned Muslim man in Queanbeyan. 

“I loved growing up in a small town, especially next to the river with lots of space to play and growing up in a very multicultural area,” he says.

“But it also involved facing a sense of dislocation and racism and experiencing stuff like that it could be pretty confronting.”

To bring the story to stage Musa worked with director Anthea Williams. He had not met Williams prior to working with her on Since Ali Died but says the creative process working with her has been a great experience. The show was put together by Williams and Musa over the course of an intensive two week period.

“It was one of the most intense experiences I’ve ever had creatively,” says Musa.

Musa says he hopes the audiences learn something from the show and that it does its little bit to give young people of colour a creative role model.

“Sometimes people say we can change the world with our art but I’m not sure that’s entirely true. Maybe we can help to give it a soundtrack or help people to get through their day. Sometimes that seems really small but it’s a really powerful thing as well.” (AH)

Until Jan 19. SBW Stables Theatre, 10 Nimrod St, Darlinghurst. $20-$35+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.griffintheatre.com.au

Jan 22-25. Riverside Theatre, Corner Market &, Church St, Parramatta. $30-$35+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.riversideparramatta.com.au

You May Also Like

Comments are closed.