Afghanistan is Not Funny

Henry Naylor’s writing career began in comedy. He honed his skills as a writer for British comedy giants such as Griff Rhys Jones, Lenny Henry and Hale and Pace, as well as the satire classic Spitting Image. In 2002, rocked by events in a post 9/11 world, Naylor turned his attention to playwriting. Now an accomplished playwright, and winner of at least a dozen Fringe Awards, Naylor returns to Adelaide to perform in the World Premiere of his latest work, Afghanistan is Not Funny.

This work is a reflection of events surrounding the writing of his play Finding Bin Laden, a satire about media reporting during the liberation of Kabul, which premiered at the Edinburgh Festival to critical, and popular, acclaim. The satirisation of those events was ripe for the picking. One need look no further than to BBC journalist John Simpson, who at the time strangely exclaimed "It was only BBC people who liberated this city.”

At the time Naylor also found that a hitherto unforeseen level of censorship was pervading both the public discussion and the media reporting around the conflict. Encouraged by a journalist mate in Afghanistan, Naylor and photographer Sam Maynard (who co-produced Finding Bin Laden) travelled to Afghanistan to see for themselves what effect the conflict was having on the people of Afghanistan.

Naylor’s rapid-fire account of what the pair witnessed in Afghanistan is heartbreaking. He recounts tales of families living quite literally in ruins, returning daily to bombed workplaces in the hope that they may once again earn a living. He speaks of communities living with the constant threat of unexploded ordnance and of warlords with glares “that would puncture concrete”. Maynard is constantly pushing the boundaries in looking for the grimmest photo opportunities, often with frightening results. The tension, risk and danger involved is palpable in Naylor’s captivating performance, under the astute directorial guidance of Martha Lott.

The chaos and poverty of Kabul is juxtaposed with the opportunity of fame and fortune when Hugh Grant expresses interest in making a film adaptation of Finding Bin Laden. This leads Naylor to a realisation that Afghanistan really is not funny, not the fodder for movie deals or personal gain. Naylor’s masterful reflection on indifference is both germane and timely in light of the recent allied troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Naylor has another Fringe Award winner on his hands with Afghanistan is Not Funny. Grab a ticket, hear his message and then, in the words of Desmond Tutu, do your little bit of good for “it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world”.

Jenny Fewster

Photographer: Rosalind Furlong

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