Unpopular Culture is a one woman show, written and performed by Tahira Dar, that deals with the complexity of casual racism and the rippling reverberations this causes in individuals. Dar packs a hefty punch in her show, leaving audiences to reconsider the world they live in.
Starting with a sweet moment between mother and daughter, Dar's 5-year old innocently asks "what did you want to be when you grew up?" Leading Dar to spiral as she recollects her experiences. Spanning over 3 decades, Dar shares her personal experiences of everyday racism, starting at a mere five years old, to present day, with each instance sharp and cutting.
Although the severity of each incident varies, they each induce gasps and shaking of heads from the audience. Having seen a previous work in progress performance of Unpopular Culture, this production has been updated to include the recent riots in August 2024, and it's own heartbreaking moment about Dar's father.
Amidst these tense moments, Dar creates fun sequences, with her confession of wanting to enjoy her spotlight, by including moments of hilarious lip syncing to Bollywood songs, interpretive dance, rapping and even having an audience member hold up a fan to enjoy a dramatic moment. These moments are enjoyable, but can at times, lose the momentum created by the themes discussed in the show. No doubt intentional and effective on Dar's part, these moments are wonderfully self-indulgent (self-proclaimed).
Dar incorporates a video compilation of several others talking about the racism that they've faced. These serve well as reminders on the large scale issue at hand, neatly propelling Dar's personal experiences. Dar also parallels these issues with her parents’ experiences, and her own stinging and constant fear about her daughter, and how racism has been and continues to be prevalent in society.
The show manages to break down these poignant theme by including a number of ways of addressing this, including the comparison of life being a constant audition. With the passive aggressive and borderline confrontational help of "Trudy", a judgy panel member, Dar further emphasises the negative and demoralising voice that grows from the lack of representation or encouragement from others, particularly in the arts field. Dar also points out the irony of needing more diversity in the arts, with these additional obstacles.
The set is warmly decorated as the interior of Dar's home, along with framed photos of her varied inspirations and idols growing up. Dar also uses accessories such as shawls, glasses, coats and more, to help distinguish her multiple roles.
Unpopular Culture is a strong and powerful piece, touching upon important themes that are still considered taboo. Dar's sharp and observational writing stems from a place of personal pained experiences, and in doing so, becomes the voice for many others, rendering a relatable or/and informative show.
★★★★★ (5*)
Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | photography by Jake Chadwick
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