Are We Here? is a new arts festival celebrating the people and work which has emerged and been inspired by Croydon, South London.
Featuring music, art, and theatre, one of the most exciting events will be Shazia Mirza - award winning British Asian Muslim Stand-Up Comedian and columnist for The New Statesman and The Guardian.
Shazia's position as a female Muslim comedian enables her to break down cultural barriers and overcome ignorance. "The average white laddie bloke really has never met a Muslim woman in his life, so they're probably really curious about our religion and our culture"
She has found her work in great demand in Britain, Pakistan and the US. She performs wearing a head scarf and describes herself as a devout Muslim, keen to dispel any preconceptions that "all Muslim women are oppressed; all Asian women have arranged marriages and women are not funny". Mirza does not make jokes at the expense of her religion but is erudite and hilarious talking about her culture and current events. Born and bred in Birmingham Shazia's comedy and insight is a direct result of her surroundings both structural and cultural, which is why Are We Here? are delighted to feature her brand new stand up show Multiple Choices as part of the festival this November.
For further information on all the events visit http://www.tinyurl.com/arewehere2010
