'No Guts, No Heart, No Glory' opened in the final week of the 2014 Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
'No Guts, No Heart, No Glory' opened in the final week of the 2014 Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Sophie Gerrard
Pictured are the cast (from left to right) Freyaa Ali, Mariam Rashid, Nayab Din, Seherish Mahmood and Saira Tabasur. They are college and university students, most of whom had never performed in front of an audience before. Their real life stories and experiences are woven into the play.
Pictured are the cast (from left to right) Freyaa Ali, Mariam Rashid, Nayab Din, Seherish Mahmood and Saira Tabasur. They are college and university students, most of whom had never performed in front of an audience before. Their real life stories and experiences are woven into the play.
Sophie Gerrard
Freyaa Ali says her parents are supportive of her decision to box. The 18-year-old aspires to study medicine and would like to carry on acting at university.
Freyaa Ali says her parents are supportive of her decision to box. The 18-year-old aspires to study medicine and would like to carry on acting at university.
Christopher Nunn
"No Guts, No Heart, No Glory" incorporates boxing, dancing, stamping, swearing and even crowd surfing. Ali explained that one girl couldn't participate because her relatives disapproved of the dancing.
"No Guts, No Heart, No Glory" incorporates boxing, dancing, stamping, swearing and even crowd surfing. Ali explained that one girl couldn't participate because her relatives disapproved of the dancing.
Sophie Gerrard
The director of the play Evie Manning was inspired to develop the show after her niqab wearing Iraqi neighbor explained she was part of an all women boxing gym.
The director of the play Evie Manning was inspired to develop the show after her niqab wearing Iraqi neighbor explained she was part of an all women boxing gym.
Christopher Nunn
"When we performed in Bradford we were all quite apprehensive about what people would say, but people were literally blown away by it... Evie's neighbour came to see the show wearing a full burka and niqab -- and she was like 'whoa, this is amazing'" said Ali.
"When we performed in Bradford we were all quite apprehensive about what people would say, but people were literally blown away by it... Evie's neighbour came to see the show wearing a full burka and niqab -- and she was like 'whoa, this is amazing'" said Ali.
Christopher Nunn
Written by Aisha Zia, the show is partly inspired by former UK national champion Ambreen Sadiq who experienced bullying and racism on her way to the top. Since she started eight years ago she's seen attitudes change -- people who originally told her she couldn't box have become big fans of the show.
Written by Aisha Zia, the show is partly inspired by former UK national champion Ambreen Sadiq who experienced bullying and racism on her way to the top. Since she started eight years ago she's seen attitudes change -- people who originally told her she couldn't box have become big fans of the show.
Christopher Nunn
The 20-year-old Sadiq was the first Asian Muslim female to box in the UK, and now also does personal training and coaching for others. After experiencing discrimination she is passionate about equality. "If I see a girl training or a boy training or a little kid training I look at each one of them equally, I look at them all as boxers and I wouldn't treat them differently to anyone else."
The 20-year-old Sadiq was the first Asian Muslim female to box in the UK, and now also does personal training and coaching for others. After experiencing discrimination she is passionate about equality. "If I see a girl training or a boy training or a little kid training I look at each one of them equally, I look at them all as boxers and I wouldn't treat them differently to anyone else."
Christopher Nunn
The show takes place in and around a boxing ring with audience members free to walk around and follow the action. The play also addresses the pressures of being young, highlighting worries about future relationships and career paths.
The show takes place in and around a boxing ring with audience members free to walk around and follow the action. The play also addresses the pressures of being young, highlighting worries about future relationships and career paths.
Sophie Gerrard
"Its all about being young, being out there, and having the strength to stand up" said Ali.
"Its all about being young, being out there, and having the strength to stand up" said Ali.
Christopher Nunn