The Royal Court Theatre has announced they are to stage 3 new work-in-progress plays from Syria and Lebanon. The season, Told From The Inside, in translation from Arabic, have been crafted from a series of workshops led by playwrights David Greig and Sam Holcroft with Royal Court International Director, Elyse Dodgson, and 12 writers from Syria and Lebanon.The three plays are:
Goats
7 & 8 Mar at 9pm
By Liwaa Yazji (Syria)
Directed by Richard Twyman
Translated by Yasmine Seale
A small government held town in Syria. Coffins pile up as grieving families struggle to cope with the impact of civil war. The local mayor decides to compensate the families: a goat for each son martyred. As the town slowly fills with goats, the community tries to hold on to its sanity.
Ghalia’s Miles
9 & 10 Mar at 9pm
By Maya Zbib (Lebanon)
Directed by Lucy Morrison
Translated by Katharine Halls
Ghalia tries to escape from her violent family and an arranged marriage by fleeing to Beirut and beyond in the hope of reaching Europe. On the way she sacrifices almost everything she has to make the crossing. A journey through a Middle East in turmoil told by a chorus of women.
The Final Return
11 & 12 Mar at 9pm
By Ghiath Mhithawi (Syria)
Directed by Richard Twyman
Translated by Victoria Lupton and Stefan Tarnowski
Houssam, a soldier, returns home from the front line. Broken by the conflict, he seeks approval from his family to desert the Syrian army. He soon learns their belief in him as a “hero” is the only thing keeping them together.
