I’m Muslamic, Don’t Panik, created and performed by Bobak Champion, blends humour, movement and storytelling to explore what it means to navigate life as a Muslim in Britain today. Through a mix of breakdancing, live saxophone, and character work, Bobak invites audiences into an experience that is both entertaining and thought-provoking.
The show draws heavily on Bobak’s own upbringing, incorporating hobbies he grew up with, including breakdancing and playing the saxophone, grounding the performance in authenticity and personal experience.
Iran is so much more than deserts and sand, and I think we all forget that. There’s beautiful music, landscape, and heritage. It usually brings a tear to our audiences, especially the Iranians, as it reminds us of what we should be prideful of.
Bobak Champion, Creator and Performer of I’m Muslamic Don’t Panik
At its core, the piece tackles Islamophobia head-on by educating the audience about heritage. In the year ending March 2025, police recorded a 19% increase in religious hate crimes targeting Muslim people in England and Wales, highlighting how Islamophobia remains a growing concern across the UK.
This issue is particularly relevant in regions like the West Midlands, where Muslim communities form a significant part of the population. Around 17.2% of people in the region identify as Muslim, making conversations around representation, identity and discrimination even more urgent at a local level.
Bobak reflects these realities through performance. One segment reimagines a viral racist clip using clowning techniques and props, reclaiming the narrative around Muslims in the UK and challenging harmful stereotypes.
The show’s call and response elements directly engage the audience, inviting them to take part and shifting the experience from a traditional performance into something closer to a shared learning space.
Audience members described the show as “pertinent and political”, with others calling it “great for all ages to learn and enjoy the show.” Another praised how it “combines so many factors of performance from music, dance, and clowning, to even food.”
The performance also celebrates Iranian culture and political history. It references Iran’s first and last ever marathon from a feminist perspective, while another segment teaches the audience how to say “Woman, Life, Freedom” in Farsi, connecting global movements to personal storytelling.
But the experience does not end with the bows.
In a unique and intimate gesture, Bobak invites audiences to stay behind for persian tea and homemade Iranian date cookies, Kolompeh, creating space for conversation and connection.
This simple act transforms the theatre into a communal space, reinforcing the show’s message that shared experiences can break down cultural barriers.
I think it’s a universal thing to share words over a cup of tea and biscuits. It humanises our experience regardless of whether you’re British or Middle Eastern.
Bobak Champion, Creator of I’m Muslamic Don’t Panik
By combining humour, culture and lived experience, I’m Muslamic, Don’t Panik offers more than just entertainment. It is a timely reminder of the power of storytelling to challenge prejudice and bring people together in a society where those conversations are more important than ever.