Tickbox is a semi-autobiographical story about my parents journey from a middle-class life in Pakistan, when my father got a scholarship to do a PhD in chemistry from Strathclyde University. He got my mum to come and live in Govan, Glasgow, which is not middle-class. So it tells the story of what it was like, in terms of racism, discrimination and injustices that they faced. I feel younger people of colour don’t understand – don’t realise that they are not the first [generation] to experience this? And their grandparents have been through it all before.

The inspiration is really my parents because, without giving it away, they both left legacies, and you hear about them in the play. Fantastic legacies, that you don’t hear about Pakistani people, because unfortunately the media often paints Pakistani people in a very bad way. And I think that’s really really unfair.

So I wanted to keep my parents’ memory alive, I wanted to share their legacy, I wanted to paint a good, honest story about Pakistani life – and about Pakistani people who have changed people’s lives. 

And the other reason [I developed this show] was because I am an actress, and as an older female of colour I have struggled to get parts. I came into the arts much later in life – I’ve only been an actress for the last 13 years, so I’m not in with the people who went to RADA, LAMDA, who’ve known each other from the start. It’s like coming into an established group of friends, and you’re like “Hi! Hello! Pick me! I’m an actress!” they’re like “Who the hell are you?”… You’ve got to earn your stripes. Like a plumber would only have to do 4 years training? but I’ve got to do- I don’t know how many years before they might look at me and say “Aye, she’s not actually that bad, you know!” So I love being on stage and I love performing and if people won’t pick me, I will write my own stuff and tour it. 

…If you wanted a short answer you haven’t got one!

Yes, my family have seen the show, and they love it. They love it. 

My sister’s comment was “Why am I not in it?!” 

My children have seen it as well. I have 3 children – I don’t know what it is about children but they just want their parents to be normal! But it doesn’t matter, I’m doing it anyway!

I want them to take away that actually underneath our colour, we’re all the same. We have the same joys and needs and sadness. We have more in common than we have differences… And the fact that I’m a fantastic actress!

I work in a hospital environment, and I run clinics for people with diabetes, and they like to try and connect with me on facebook, and I don’t do that because they’re my patients! I can’t do that! They’ll say “Dr Lubna, I connected with you and you did not accept!” And they’ll be at the appointment and I’m like, “We’re here to talk about your diabetes!” 

I would tell her to stick to what she believes in and not be scared to put her head above the parapet – it might get rocked from side to side, but inside you’ll know you’re on the right path. I am a person who has always put her head above the parapet. Because I always feel like I need to do the right thing. Sometimes it’s sticking up for me, sometimes sticking up for others, sometimes sticking up for a cause. And your cause might not be en vogue, you might be sticking up for an underdog – but I’m Scottish, we’re always underdogs, especially in football!

I’d want to say: “stick at it believe in yourself, know that you’re doing the right thing, follow your gut because you’ll never go in the wrong direction if you do what you feel is the right thing.”

ontent

Entertaining, Funny, Reflective

It would be great to have a good turnout – of all backgrounds, because the play is for everybody. Doesn’t matter what colour, what background you are – it’s funny, entertaining and reflective! This show resonates with everybody. I’ve had audiences who were all white, I’ve had audiences who were 90% people of colour, I’ve had 50/50 – I’ve had all ratios, and they’ve all loved it! 

Oh, what I would like is a Netflix special! Netflix people if you’re reading this come and see the show!