11-26 July 2015
‘A Window on Contemporary Arab Culture’
THEATRE PROGRAMME
Shubbak (meaning ‘window’ in Arabic) is London’s largest biennial festival of contemporary Arab culture. For its third festival, which runs from the 11-26 July, Shubbak presents its most ambitious programme yet, with UK premieres and new commissions from artists across the Arab world. This year’s festival will present a truly varied programme designed to appeal to London’s population in all its diversity.
Shubbak presents a theatre programme at Rich Mix, the Cockpit Theatre, Bush Theatre, Arcola Theatre and the Young Vic.
D-SISYPHE
RICH MIX
18 AND 19 JULY, 7.30PM
At Rich Mix, award-winning Tunisian actor and director Meher Awachri performs the UK premiere of D-Sisyphe, a night in the life of Khmais, a Tunisian construction worker in the midst of an existential crisis. Based on story of Sisyphus, this monologue (in Arabic with English subtitles) with contemporary dance and physical theatre, confronts topics of religion, revolution and individual will.
Listings:
D-Sisyphe
Address: Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, E1 6LA
Date/time: 18 and 19 July 2015, 7.30pm
Tickets: £10
Post-show Talk: with Meher Awachri 18 July
Booking: 020 7613 7498/ www.shubbak.co.uk/d-sisyphe
London has a rich sector of Arab theatre makers creating new work. Shubbak highlights four examples of Arab theatre making in London:
THE TREE CLIMBER
COCKPIT THEATRE
14-18 JULY, 7.30PM, MATINEES 16 and 18 JULY, 3.30PM
At the Cockpit Theatre London-based El-Alfy Theatre Company presents The Tree Climber by Tawfik Al Hakeem, Egypt’s most renowned playwright of the 20th century.
Bahadir Effendi, a retired train inspector, finds himself in a whirlpool of problems when his wife, Behana disappears. The subsequent plot includes a detective, a lizard, a time-travelling dervish, and a magic tree, who all contribute to turn the quiet life of a married couple upside down. The Tree Climber is a fast-paced farce and a major work of absurdist theatre in Egypt. Adapted by Perdita Stott and directed by Ahmed El-Alfy.
Listings:
The Tree Climber
Address: Cockpit Theatre, Gateforth Street, NW8 8EH
Date/time: 14- 18 July 2015, 7.30pm, Matinees 16 and 18 July, 3.30pm.
Tickets: £22 (£15 concessions)
Booking: 020 7258 2925/ http://www.shubbak.co.uk/the-tree-climber
NAHDA
BUSH THEATRE
15-18 JULY, 7PM, MATINEES 15 and 18, 2PM
Sevan K. Greene’s Nahda (Awakening) is a collection of four short plays at the Bush Theatre telling stories of the confusion of second generation children of refugees, the conflicted fate of Arab Muslim soldiers, the West’s fascination with consumerism, and five generations of women using Facebook for political agency. Sevan K. Greene asks how personal freedom and identity can be conquered under the pressure of conflicting forces.
Listings:
Nahda
Address: Bush Theatre, 7 Uxbridge Road, W12 8LJ
Date/time: 15- 18 July 2015, 7pm, Matinees 15 and 18, 2pm.
Tickets: £12
Booking: 020 8743 5050/ http://www.shubbak.co.uk/nahda
LOVE, BOMBS AND APPLES
ARCOLA THEATRE
21-25 JULY, 8PM, MATINEE 25 JULY, 3.30PM
Love, Bombs & Apples at the Arcola Theatre is four comic tales of four men from different parts of the globe experiencing a moment of revelation. Written by Hassan Abdulrazzak (Baghdad Wedding), performed by Asif Khan, directed by Rosamunde Hutt, designed by Mila Sanders with music by James Hesford.“Exhilarating…The dialogue is quick, sardonic, full of character” – The Observer on Baghdad Wedding. Presented by AIK productions.
Listings:
Love, Bombs & Apples
Address: Arcola Theatre, 24 Ashwin Street, E8 3DL
Date/time: 21-25 July 2015, 8pm, Matinee 25 July, 3.30pm.
Tickets: £13-17
Booking: 020 7503 1646/ www.shubbak.co.uk/love-bombs-apples
NOW IS THE TIME TO SAY NOTHING
YOUNG VIC
14-18 July, 2PM, 4PM, 7PM AND 9PM DAILY
Now Is The Time To Say Nothing at the Young Vic explores the ongoing conflict in Syria through the eyes of young Londoners collaborating with young Syrian filmmaker Reem Karssli. Featuring moving video and a stunning soundscape, this powerful and immersive Young Vic Taking Part production plays for a limited run for Shubbak.
Listings:
Now is The Time to Say Nothing
Address: Young Vic, 66 The Cut, SE1 8LZ
Date/time: 14-18 July 2015, 2pm, 4pm, 7pm, 9pm
Tickets: Free
Booking: 020 7922 2922/ www.shubbak.co.uk/now-is-the-time-to-say-nothing
Website: www.shubbak.co.uk
Twitter: @shubbakfestival
Facebook: /shubbakfestival