Hannah Khalil: Plays of Arabic Heritage: Plan D; Scenes from 73* Years; A Negotiation; A Museum in Baghdad; Last of the Pearl Fishers; Hakawatis

Hannah Khalil's first ever collection of plays explores her Arab heritage, drawing on family histories and significant events in the Arab World. The plays are set in both historical and modern contexts and offer a plethora of non-stereotypical roles for actors of Arab heritage. The anthology includes a feminist take on 1001 nights, an exploration of Gertrude Bell, the Museum in Baghdad, and Britains role in the birth of Iraq, as well as two plays about the Palestinian experience. The plays offer a variety of approaches to storytelling, memorable characters, and unforgettable stories.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 296 pages
\n Publication date: 23 September 2021
\n Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
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This is the first ever collection of plays by Palestinian-Irish playwright Hannah Khalil; the first woman of Arab heritage to have a main-stage play at the RSC. It encompasses a decades worth of plays exploring her Arab heritage, drawing on family histories as well as significant events in the Arab World. They were all written during a period that included the end of the war in Iraq, the intensification of the occupation of Palestine, and the birth and disillusion of the so-called Arab Spring. The plays included are set in both a historical and modern context. They include a feminist take on 1001 nights and the Scheherazade story; an exploration of Gertrude Bell, the Museum in Baghdad, and Britain's role in the birth of the Iraq; plus two plays looking at the Palestinian experience, one based on a family living through the creation of the State of Israel in 1948, the other an epic collage that moves in time from 1948 to present day. This anthology also includes a radio play set in Dubai and a monologue about the power and legacy of artefacts. Its notable that these plays offer a plethora of non-stereotypical roles for actors of Arab heritage.

Through the six plays included, the reader can trace a variety of approaches to storytelling, a host of memorable characters, and some unforgettable stories. Plays include:

Plan D: Scenes from 73* Years
A Negotiation
Museum in Baghdad
Last of the Pearl Fishers
Hakawatis

Plan D: Scenes from 73* Years

Plan D is a play that explores the experiences of a Palestinian family living in Jerusalem during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. The play is set in a small apartment, where the family is forced to hide from the Israeli soldiers who are searching for them. The play is a powerful exploration of the human cost of war, and the ways in which people are forced to adapt to their circumstances in order to survive.

The play is written in a minimalist style, with few props and sets. The focus is on the characters and their interactions, which are often intense and emotional. The play explores themes of identity, displacement, and the search for home. The characters are complex and well-developed, with each having their own unique story and perspective on the war.

One of the most memorable characters in the play is the mother, who is determined to protect her family at all costs. She is a strong and resilient woman who is willing to do whatever it takes to keep her children safe. She is also a deeply spiritual woman who finds solace in her faith and her prayers.

Another memorable character is the father, who is a political activist who is fighting for the rights of the Palestinian people. He is a passionate and idealistic man who is willing to risk everything in order to achieve his goals. He is also a deeply flawed man who is struggling with his own demons and his sense of self.

The play also explores the themes of love and loss. The characters are deeply in love with each other, but their love is tested by the war and the circumstances that they are living in. The father is killed in the war, which leaves the mother to raise her children alone. This loss is a devastating blow to the family, and it leaves the mother to struggle with her own sense of loss and grief.

Overall, Plan D is a powerful and moving play that explores the experiences of a Palestinian family living in Jerusalem during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. The play is a testament to the human cost of war and the ways in which people are forced to adapt to their circumstances in order to survive. The characters are complex and well-developed, and the play offers a powerful exploration of themes of identity, displacement, and the search for home.

A Negotiation

A Negotiation is a play that explores the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the eyes. The play is set in a hotel room, where a group of negotiators are trying to reach a peace agreement between Israel and Palestine. The play is written in a minimalist style, with few props and sets. The focus is on the characters and their interactions, which are often intense and emotional.

The play explores themes of identity, displacement, and the search for home. The characters are complex and well-developed, with each having their own unique story and perspective on the conflict. The play also explores the themes of power and politics, as the negotiators are forced to navigate the complex web of interests and alliances that are involved in the conflict.

One of the most memorable characters in the play is the Israeli negotiator, who is a charismatic and confident man who is determined to reach a peace agreement. He is a skilled negotiator who is able to navigate the complex web of interests and alliances that are involved in the conflict, and he is willing to do whatever it takes to achieve his goals. He is also a deeply flawed man who is struggling with his own demons and his sense of self.

Another memorable character is the Palestinian negotiator, who is a passionate and idealistic woman who is fighting for the rights of her people. She is a skilled negotiator who is able to navigate the complex web of interests and alliances that are involved in the conflict, and she is willing to risk everything in order to achieve her goals. She is also a deeply flawed woman who is struggling with her own demons and her sense of self.

The play also explores the themes of love and loss. The characters are deeply in love with each other, but their love is tested by the conflict and the circumstances that they are living in. The Israeli negotiator is killed in the conflict, which leaves the Palestinian negotiator to carry on his work alone. This loss is a devastating blow to the family, and it leaves the Palestinian negotiator to struggle with her own sense of loss and grief.

Overall, A Negotiation is a powerful and moving play that explores the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the eyes. The play is a testament to the human cost of war and the ways in which people are forced to adapt to their circumstances in order to survive. The characters are complex and well-developed, and the play offers a powerful exploration of themes of identity, displacement, and the search for home.

Museum in Baghdad

Museum in Baghdad is a play that explores the history of the Museum of Baghdad, which was destroyed during the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq. The play is set in a museum, where a group of archaeologists and historians are trying to piece together the history of the museum and the artifacts that it housed. The play is written in a minimalist style, with few props and sets. The focus is on the characters and their interactions, which are often intense and emotional.

The play explores themes of identity, displacement, and the search for home. The characters are complex and well-developed, with each having their own unique story and perspective on the conflict. The play also explores the themes of power and politics, as the archaeologists and historians are forced to navigate the complex web of interests and alliances that are involved in the conflict.

One of the most memorable characters in the play is the Iraqi archaeologist, who is a passionate and idealistic man who is determined to preserve the history of his country. He is a skilled archaeologist who is able to navigate the complex web of interests and alliances that are involved in the conflict, and he is willing to risk everything in order to achieve his goals. He is also a deeply flawed man who is struggling with his own demons and his sense of self.

Another memorable character is the American archaeologist, who is a cynical and jaded man who is only interested in the artifacts that the museum houses. He is a skilled archaeologist who is able to navigate the complex web of interests and alliances that are involved in the conflict, but he is also a deeply flawed man who is struggling with his own demons and his sense of self.

The play also explores the themes of love and loss. The characters are deeply in love with each other, but their love is tested by the conflict and the circumstances that they are living in. The Iraqi archaeologist is killed in the conflict, which leaves the American archaeologist to carry on his work alone. This loss is a devastating blow to the family, and it leaves the American archaeologist to struggle with his own sense of loss and grief.

Overall, Museum in Baghdad is a powerful and moving play that explores the history of the Museum of Baghdad, which was destroyed during the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq. The play is a testament to the human cost of war and the ways in which people are forced to adapt to their circumstances in order to survive. The characters are complex and well-developed, and the play offers a powerful exploration of themes of identity, displacement, and the search for home.

Last of the Pearl Fishers

Last of the Pearl Fishers is a play that explores the history of the Pearl Fishery in the Gulf of Oman. The play is set in a fishing village, where a group of fishermen are trying to catch pearls. The play is written in a minimalist style, with few props and sets. The focus is on the characters and their interactions, which are often intense and emotional.

The play explores themes of identity, displacement, and the search for home. The characters are complex and well-developed, with each having their own unique story and perspective on the conflict. The play also explores the themes of power and politics, as the fishermen are forced to navigate the complex web of interests and alliances that are involved in the conflict.

One of the most memorable characters in the play is the fisherman, who is a passionate and idealistic man who is determined to catch pearls. He is a skilled fisherman who is able to navigate the complex web of interests and alliances that are involved in the conflict, but he is also a deeply flawed man who is struggling with his own demons and his sense of self.

Another memorable character is the fisherman's wife, who is a strong and resilient woman who is willing to do whatever it takes to support her family. She is a deeply spiritual woman who finds solace in her faith and her prayers, and she is also a deeply flawed woman who is struggling with her own demons and her sense of self.

The play also explores the themes of love and loss. The characters are deeply in love with each other, but their love is tested by the conflict and the circumstances that they are living in. The fisherman is killed in the conflict, which leaves the fisherman's wife to carry on his work alone. This loss is a devastating blow to the family, and it leaves the fisherman's wife to struggle with her own sense of loss and grief.

Overall, Last of the Pearl Fishers is a powerful and moving play that explores the history of the Pearl Fishery in the Gulf of Oman. The play is a testament to the human cost of war and the ways in which people are forced to adapt to their circumstances in order to survive. The characters are complex and well-developed, and the play offers a powerful exploration of themes of identity, displacement, and the search for home.

Hakawatis

Hakawatis is a play that explores the history of the Hakawati tribe in the Arabian Peninsula. The play is set in a desert, where a group of Hakawati tribesmen are trying to survive. The play is written in a minimalist style, with few props and sets. The focus is on the characters and their interactions, which are often intense and emotional.

The play explores themes of identity, displacement, and the search for home. The characters are complex and well-developed, with each having their own unique story and perspective on the conflict. The play also explores the themes of power and politics, as the Hakawati tribesmen are forced to navigate the complex web of interests and alliances that are involved in the conflict.

One of the most memorable characters in the play is the leader of the Hakawati tribe, who is a passionate and idealistic man who is determined to protect his people. He is a skilled leader who is able to navigate the complex web of interests and alliances that are involved in the conflict, but he is also a deeply flawed man who is struggling with his own demons and his sense of self.

Another memorable character is the wife of the leader, who is a strong and resilient woman who is willing to do whatever it takes to support her family. She is a deeply spiritual woman who finds solace in her faith and her prayers, and she is also a deeply flawed woman who is struggling with her own demons and her sense of self.

The play also explores the themes of love and loss. The characters are deeply in love with each other, but their love is tested by the conflict and the circumstances that they are living in. The leader is killed in the conflict, which leaves the wife to carry on his work alone. This loss is a devastating blow to the family, and it leaves the wife to struggle with her own sense of loss and grief.

Overall, Hakawatis is a powerful and moving play that explores the history of the Hakawati tribe in the Arabian Peninsula. The play is a testament to the human cost of war and the ways in which people are forced to adapt to their circumstances in order to survive. The characters are complex and well-developed, and the play offers a powerful exploration of themes of identity, displacement, and the search for home.

\n Weight: 356g\n
Dimension: 156 x 233 x 28 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781350242197\n \n