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The Diary of a Hounslow Girl
- An Audible Original
- Narrated by: Ambreen Razia
- Length: 1 hr and 36 mins
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The Diary of a Hounslow Girl
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Summary
In a deeply moving and warm performance, Ambreen Razia delivers her bold and provocative one-woman play that confronts—and dismantles—stereotypes surrounding Muslim women.
Growing up in downscale urban London wearing hoop earrings and a hijab, Shaheeda, the British Muslim teen at the center of The Diary of a Hounslow Girl, balances the expectations of her family and the temptations of city life. Between the joys of traditional Pakistani weddings and fights on the night bus, this comic and raw coming-of-age story highlights her struggle with deep-rooted Pakistani values, and the modern aspirations—and frustrations—of youth.
Note: Portions of this audio drama contain mature language and themes. Listener discretion is advised
About the Author and Performer
Ambreen Razia is an actress and writer from South London. Her critically acclaimed debut play, The Diary of a Hounslow Girl, toured nationally with Black Theatre Live and House Theatre, was featured at Alchemy Festival, Southbank and has been commissioned as a TV pilot, Hounslow Diaries, for BBC Three. Razia won Best Newcomer at the Asian Media Awards in 2016 and Eastern Eye’s Emerging Artist Award in 2017. Additional acting credits include: On the Middle Day; Words and Women; Mind the Gap; No Guts, No Heart, No Glory; Random Acts; Murdered by My Father; Finding Fatimah; Ladies Day; Ilford Lane; Killed by My Debt; and The Harry Hill Sitcom. Ambreen has performed and worked in women’s prisons across the UK and continues to facilitate workshops with young women, undertaking and discussing issues such as radicalization, body image, domestic violence, girls in gangs, and consent.
Photo by Shaheen Razaqq
Critic reviews
"Ambreen Razia’s performance is astonishing and engaging. For any actor to hold an audience interested for over an hour is an achievement in itself. The fact that she manages to inject the performance with humour, and the fervour of youth, says a lot about her understanding of her subject, of the quality of the writing and of the talent of Razia herself. Shaheeda is no stereotype. She’s complex, and ultimately young!" (British Theatre ★★★★★)
"Much of this play is very funny, not least because the problems on show are not confined to Muslims, or indeed to any one group. Stress between generations is on of the many elements in human existence with which we all have to learn to deal. Young as she is, Shaheeda is maturing as we watch her. This really is an evening in the theatre that people should not miss." (Plays to See ★★★★★)
"Ambreen Razia proves to be as talented a writer as she is a performer. The play follows 16-year-old Shaheeda as she struggles to align her Pakistani heritage with the realities of life as a London teenager. This is a sophisticated, moving and often very funny piece of writing, particularly nuanced in its depiction of Shaheeda's relationship with her mother." (The Stage ★★★★)
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What listeners say about The Diary of a Hounslow Girl
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- SPRish
- 08-08-20
interesting but maybe no new ground covered?
A well acted and well produced Look Back In Anger. This time teenage Muslim issues in West London rather than Billy Porter in East Midlands. It felt full of clichés but maybe the generational story needs repetition.
lots of inpenetrable street slang which increases realism and decreases communication, innit.
Some good, and unexpected, humour.
The interview with author at the end was useful.
This is a topic of today that deserves a much more thoughtful
discussion.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mimi
- 25-05-20
Great story
Thoroughly enjoyed this audible
Compulsive listening and ie grossing
Also enjoyed hearing the writer being interviewed at the end
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Ask
- 25-05-20
Good
I had thought about getting this after it was reviewed on "You heard it here first" and then it came up as free. I gave it a go and enjoyed it. The fast pace, teen talk worked well.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Natalie
- 14-10-23
Loved this book
Well performed and brilliant themes. A coming of age book that highlights the struggles and tension for British Muslim girls. Everyone of every race religion age and colour should read this to help us all appreciate empathise with our wonderful multicultural nation. Thank you I loved it!
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Sigrin
- 20-05-20
Hounslow init
Well it was free so no high hopes.
Started off with promise and then fell a bit flat
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- fizzyvena
- 14-05-20
Well worth a read
Really enjoyed it. Especially at it was free. Shame i couldn't see it on tv
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- dianaB
- 20-06-20
Great insight into this world
Loved the snapshot of the world and all the pressures revealed from this young woman’s point of view. Excellent performance.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- martyna
- 19-05-20
Loved it
Loved every minute of this story! Listened in one sitting as I couldn't put it down. Highly recommended
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Shelley
- 29-06-20
What a powerful story
A great performance of a very eye opening and powerful story. An insight into the potentially dangerous life of a teenager who has no useful communication with her parents
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Joni J Mielke
- 31-10-21
Authentic, great presentation
Considering this initially took the form of a theatrical performance, Ambreen Razia has done an excellent job of adapting this story into an audio performance. As a listener I felt transported by this modern Muslim teenage experience of life in Hounslow, London, where tradition and modern life are difficult to reconcile. That part of the diary is as authentic as you can get, and yet the coming of age theme is relatable. This is life in all its painful complexity, with joys and hurts and new experiences coupled with the firmness and immutable nature of culture, tradition and family ties. An excellent audio drama, highly recommended.
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