Sara Shaarawi
Sara Shaarawi (born 1989) is an Egyptian playwright and producer. She is chiefly known for her work in Scottish Theatre. [1]
Early life
Shaarawi was born in the United States in 1989, raised in Cairo and settled in Scotland after studying there. .
Career
While at the University of Edinburgh in 2011 Shaarawi began working with David Greig on a series of Arab plays to be performed at Oran Mor as part of an Arab Spring season. [2] The experience launched her into Scottish theatre and her first play, Niqabi Ninja, was shared as a work in progress at the Tron Theatre in 2014 and Platform in 2015.[3] Niqabi Ninja has since been performed in Germany and South Africa.[4] A full production is planned for the UK.
Other work for theatre has included Leyla, performed at the Tron Theatre in 2017[5] and Lifted, with her co-writer Henry Bell, which appeared at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2015 and 2016.[6]
Shaarawi is the recipient of a New Playwright's Award from Playwright's Studio[7] and the Starter Programme from the National Theatre of Scotland.[8] Other projects include a Cairene adaptation of Alasdair Gray's 1982, Janine with Henry Bell.[9] The play Haneen had a rehearsal reading in Egypt.[10]
As a producer Shaarawi is known for her work with the Arab Arts Focus, both in organising the largest Arab Arts Festival to come to the Edinburgh Fringe,[11] and as the host of its nightly cabaret, Chill Habibi.[12] Shaarawi is a founder member of The Workers Theatre,[13] and produces Megaphone, a crowdfunded residency for artists of colour in Scotland.[14]
In 2017 Shaarawi, was ranked 43rd in The List Hot 100.[15]
Themes
Shaarawi's work has a focus on inter-cultural and multilingual dialogue, often looking at moving beyond and deconstructing binaries. Sharply political and funny, her work is both distinctly Scottish and Egyptian.[according to whom?]
Personal life
Shaarawi lives in Glasgow, Scotland.[16]
References
- ^ "Playwrights' Studio, Scotland | Playwrights". www.playwrightsstudio.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-09-27.
- ^ "Sara Shaarawi introduces Megaphone - Theatre - The Skinny". Retrieved 2017-09-27.
- ^ "Playwrights' Studio, Scotland | Playwrights". www.playwrightsstudio.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-09-27.
- ^ "Avenging superhero Niqabi Ninja flexes muscles | Cape Times". Retrieved 2017-09-27.
- ^ "Scenes Unseen Rehearsed Readings". allevents.in. Retrieved 2017-09-27.
- ^ "Lifted – Fringebiscuit". fringebiscuit.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-09-27.
- ^ "Playwrights' Studio, Scotland | Programmes". www.playwrightsstudio.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-09-27.
- ^ @stylehatch, Style Hatch - http://stylehatch.co |. "Introducing our Starter Artists". National Theatre of Scotland blog. Retrieved 2017-09-27.
{{cite news}}: External link in|first= - ^ "New play based on Alasdair Gray novel among project backed by Creative Scotland". HeraldScotland. Retrieved 2017-09-27.
- ^ "From Janine to Haneen: an Egyptian adaptation of Alasdair Gray's novel". www.the-tls.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-09-27.
- ^ Ellis-Petersen, Hannah (2017-08-17). "Arab arts showcase at Edinburgh fringe beset by visa difficulties". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2017-09-27.
- ^ "Edinburgh Festival, review, Chill Habibi: A great evening's entertainment". The Independent. 2017-08-21. Retrieved 2017-09-27.
- ^ "Megaphone project launches to promote black artists in Scotland | News | The Stage". The Stage. 2017-03-13. Retrieved 2017-09-27.
- ^ "Arts News: Scottish-Egyptian playwright launches anti-Racist kickstarter, Scots in Romantic Novel Awards, new show at GSA". Evening Times. Retrieved 2017-09-27.
- ^ "The Hot 100 2017: 50–41 – Bloody Scotland, Karen Gillan, Alasdair Roberts and Edinburgh International Film Festival among our favourite cultural contributors this year | The List". www.list.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-11-02.
- ^ "Getting to 'ken' Scotland: Italian-Egyptian playwright Sara Shaarawi on her Scots contribution to this year's Fringe". CommonSpace. 2015-08-04. Retrieved 2017-09-27.