We Can’t be Friends – exploring sexuality & faith; Suga – commodifying love – Housemates Festival 2026
Review of two plays from the Housemates Festival which aims to showcase emerging and new writers with their take on contemporary issues and set around London… See also our interviews with the writer and actor in the first (see link at the bottom…)
By Suman Bhuchar
Warm writing, interesting characters, funny and entertaining
THIS is a new two-hander by writer Abir Mohammad exploring the dilemma of how to reconcile your sexuality with your faith.
Rahim (Saqib Bashir) is a young Muslim gay man who has wandered into his local mosque in Ilford and picks up a copy of the Our’an looking for answers and solace. Here, he runs into Azhar (Ayan Philip), a teacher who gives instructions in learning the text and over time they engage in banter as ‘bros’ and a relationship develops between the two. It’s a sort of friendship but there is also an attraction.
Saqib has left East London and moved to Cambridge as he is estranged from his family, who cannot accept his sexuality. He has a vulnerability and openness, while Azhar remains a more practical person.
‘We Can’t Be Friends’ is directed and designed by Melina Namdar- the set is a square table tennis like platform with white lines in various places. At the centre is the praying space. Maybe the square denotes the constriction of the structures the two protagonists have placed or find themselves in.
The plot has many threads that are left unexplored and some of the transitions are unclear.
We have the first kiss, the homophobic attack in the park, the attraction – but the central moral dilemma of faith and sexuality is left unanswered.
There are lots of cultural references aimed at Gen Z and serve as a shorthand for character development insight and make it relatable and the writing is warm.
The show did bring a lot of new audiences to the venue and remains sold out (one final performance this evening).
How do Saqib and Azhar resolve their particular dilemma is answered by the title of the play…
The writing is engaging and the performances are warm.
Acv rating: **** (out of five)
Suga – Love and money don’t ever go together, do they?
A THREE-HANDER mostly – written and performed by Max Hyner in the lead role as Harry and is about ‘sugar dating’ (where on older person can ‘buy’ time with a younger one).
In a capitalist and materialistic culture, what are young people looking for?
Harry is in debt and the interest keeps piling up (visually illustrated by the number cards that keep falling through his mailbox) but he is too laconic or laid back to want to do something about it.
Then one day his female bestie, Sira (Fanta Barrie) encourages him to sign up to a website in order to find someone who will pay to have his company. Eventually, he does and meets ‘Daddy’ (Jon Campling) and at first it seems great – all the brand names, the finest champagne, and hedonistic lifestyle are made possible thanks to Daddy. But still – he never gets round to paying his debt which keeps mounting up.
The moral question of these transactional relationships are never fully explored – in ‘Suga’ more of it comes with the more experienced sugar baby in the form of Sira who reminds Harry of boundaries.
Inevitably, Harry ends up going deep and forgets the words he echoes in his monologues that “Nothing Comes From Nothing”, so is left hurt.
Directed by Sean Landis with the set and costume by Maya Heritage, this is play that ends up in a semi-familiar place, essentially. In these highly cost conscious days, it is a luxury to see four actors on stage with one mostly appearing as a crew member (who is not named) and perform a final cameo in the show, as well as play a small but significant part in ‘’Suga‘’. Some of Harry’s monologues are in modern TikTok style rhyming slang and while being entertaining, the play doesn’t really explore the subject in a way that is completely fresh and insightful.
The performances are strong and Hyner as a writer has something definitely to offer – the poetry is enjoyable but the play ends in a predictable place.
ACV rating: *** (out of five)
Listing
We Can’t Be Friends (last show today 8pm; sold out but check returns) and the Housemates Festival continues until September 19 – Brixton House, 385 Coldharbour Lane, London SW9 8GL
