The Muslim Panto returns with its latest fairytale remake: Snow Brown and her Seven Chachay
The seasonal theatre company brings its longest run of shows yet to venues across the UK
What happens when the beloved British pantomime gets a Muslim makeover? Founded in 2023 by comedian and actor Abdullah Afzal, the Muslim Panto theatre company has built its brand on turning familiar fairytales on their head, with a unique blend of slapstick humour, culturally appropriate humour and improvisation.
Following the success of its debut production Cinder’Aliyah and Beauty and the Balaah (2024), the group is back with Snow Brown and her Seven Chachay. The show, which began on 7 November in Derby at the Grand River Suite, and closes on 18 January at the RNCM Theatre in Manchester, has already sold 20,000 tickets across the UK.
“Everyone knows the story of Snow White,” says Afzal, who wrote and produces the show, and plays one of Snow Brown’s uncles, Chacha Gussa. “It’s about making the equivalent between these stories that have been told hundreds of times and asking, ‘What would happen if it was a Muslim family?’”
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Snow Brown is Muslim Panto’s biggest touring production to date, with 38 shows across 11 cities, and is independently funded and organised by Afzal. The company will perform in theatres, banquet halls and schools, turning unconventional venues into places of laughter and entertainment.
“Forget breaking the fourth wall. We’ve completely removed it,” Afzal laughs. “We’re in the audience, bringing them on to stage, getting them involved. Without it, it doesn’t work.”
Among the nine cast members is TikTok personality Daud Butt. Known for his humorous day-in the-life videos and with a following of more than 470,000, Butt landed himself a role in the show as the Queen’s scheming sidekick, Padh. It’s his first time acting on stage.
“It’s nice to be a part of something written by South Asians, for South Asians,” he says. “Sometimes watching other shows with your parents is difficult because they don’t understand what’s going on, so to be a part of something that my dad can watch and laugh at, it’s a sweet thing.”
The idea for the Muslim Panto was born from the lack of family-friendly spaces that Afzal encountered as a father. He recalls one particular moment when he took his children to a pantomime and was surprised when one of the cast appeared on stage partially naked.
“I like the premise of a pantomime and it’s really entertaining, but we can’t enjoy it because a man’s going to come out with a thong on,” he says. “We’ve got to find that alternative, and I guess that’s what I’ve provided.”
While Muslim Panto aims to offer wholesome entertainment and representation, Afzal shares that the idea has got under some people’s skin. “We’ve had rightwing nationalists calling the police on us,” he says, smiling. “The abuse I get online is extreme, but it just makes me laugh. Some people think the name of the panto doesn’t make sense. How can snow be brown? But that’s not my thinking. My thinking is, how can I annoy these racist people?”
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Using satire as a form of political protest isn’t new to the Muslim community. Think of Four Lions, Diary of a Bad Man and Afzal’s own role in the BBC production Citizen Khan.
“The great thing about our community is that the humour with adults and kids isn’t too far apart,” Afzal says. “Muslims are the funniest people in the world. We shouldn’t shy away from that, we should shout that from the rooftops.”
Proceeds from the tour will go to various charities supporting Palestine, including Forgotten Women, Donate Directly and Islamic Relief. It was important that Afzal’s art could make a difference.
“Knowing what we’re doing will help people is huge for me,” he says proudly. It’s going to make a difference for people that our communities care about.”
Tickets and tour dates are available to purchase directly from the Muslim Panto website.
