Generous Friend
Generous Friend is a collaboration between Erum Khan and Erin Brubacher.
In our work together we seek to create worlds that reflect the current and fluid social, political, and cultural landscape in Canada.
Our inaugural project is Noor, a play written by Erum and directed by Erin.
Noor is about the navigation of identities here and now. 17 year old Noor encounters her own sexuality and Islamic faith through a contemporary examination of 13th century poet, Rumi and his muse, Shams. As she navigates the end of adolescence, she faces the absence of her mother, paralyzed communication with her father, and fraught intimacy with her closest friend. Noor's mother, Mumina drifts through time and unknown spaces, as each present character confronts an inner violence of belonging, and displacement. The fifth character in the piece is music: Noor and her friend Aubrey’s relationship is punctuated with contemporary music while Noor's father, Bashir, plays the classical sitar, in concert with the characters’ recitations of Rumi’s poetry.
Collaborators for Noor include:
Anwar Khurshid, LAL, Kaitlin Hickey, Madi Baines, Amanda Ghazale Aziz and Liz Peterson.
UPCOMING PUBLIC WORKSHOPS/ PRESENTATIONS:
AGA KHAN MUSEUM
Tuesday, February 20 and Wednesday, February 21
Free with Museum admission
RHUBARB FESTIVAL, BUDDIES IN BAD TIMES THEATRE
Friday February 23, 10:00PM
About Erum
Erum Khan is a film and theatre-maker from Mississauga, Ontario. Current and recent projects include: Assistant Director for Acha Bacha (Theatre Passe Muraille/ Buddies); performer/ assistant director for Concord Floral (BRUBACHER/SPOONER/
Generous Friend is supported by The Ontario Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts
Noor is part of the National Arts Centre's The Collaborations