Play readings and panel discussion 
All plays are in Arabic/Free Entrance

Thursday 29 January, 8 p.m.
 
EGYPTIAN PRODUCTS (Egypt)
by Laila Soliman directed by Hani Afifi 
 
In Cairo, today, Hadia, a loud independent assistant to an elderly writer, trying to find balance in her life between religion, tradition and her needs, meets Gassir, a shy introverted lab assistant with an attachment issue over his dead mother. Will they live happily ever after in spite of themselves?
 
 
HELLO (Lebanon)
by Tarek ُEl Bacha directed by Maya Zbib
 
Hello… can you see me? Or have you learnt to go blind to all things human, just like those who lost their eyes to television? "Hello" is a play that seems to capture the way in which the awful side effects of war and conflict, love and forgetfulness, play themselves out in the lives of ordinary people.
             
Friday 30 January, 8 p.m.   
 
AL-MIRWAD WA ALMIKHALEH (Syria)
by Adnan Alaoda directed by Omar Abusaada 
 
"Mihiar: Why?  
Nadie: because you are a damned Syrian…like this whole country …
Mihiar: my God … is it a blessing or a damnation that we are different?"
 
 
SLEEPING BEAUTY INSOMNIA  (Lebanon)
by Abed Al Rahim Al Awgi directed by Rakan Mayasi
 
"War is a sleeping beauty, who has been inside of us for millions of years, sleeping a deep sleep… interrupted by a kiss."
While Israeli forces rain down bombs on Lebanon, two people take refuge from the bombing in a deserted theatre.  They are rehearsing a play to stay alive long enough to escape. As they do so, they realise things about themselves and about the other that they would never have known.  
        
Saturday 31 January, 8 p.m.      
 
DAMAGE (Morocco)
by Kamal Khalladi directed by Zakaria Lahlou 
 
"It seems that the world we live in has no more room for happiness," says the soldier to his wife after his return from a mission in Democratic Congo. 'Damage' is a play about love and war, vulnerability and estrangement, the fading away of the spark of life within oneself.
 
 
Post-Reading Open Discussion
 
The last evening of readings will be followed by an open discussion with the audience, participating playwrights and directors from the Arab region in addition to the Royal Court Theatre team.