Sara Shaarawi

Sara Shaarawi (born 1989) is an Egyptian playwright and producer. She is chiefly known for her work in Scottish Theatre. [1]

Sara Shaarawi stands in a derelict biscuit factory in Glasgow holding a Megaphone in a promotional image for the Workers Theatre.

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.

Personal life

Shaarawi lives in Glasgow, Scotland.[16]

References
  1. "Playwrights' Studio, Scotland | Playwrights". www.playwrightsstudio.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-09-27.
  2. "Sara Shaarawi introduces Megaphone - Theatre - The Skinny". Retrieved 2017-09-27.
  3. "Playwrights' Studio, Scotland | Playwrights". www.playwrightsstudio.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-09-27.
  4. "Avenging superhero Niqabi Ninja flexes muscles | Cape Times". Retrieved 2017-09-27.
  5. "Scenes Unseen Rehearsed Readings". allevents.in. Retrieved 2017-09-27.
  6. "Lifted – Fringebiscuit". fringebiscuit.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-09-27.
  7. "Playwrights' Studio, Scotland | Programmes". www.playwrightsstudio.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-09-27.
  8. @stylehatch, Style Hatch - http://stylehatch.co |. "Introducing our Starter Artists". National Theatre of Scotland blog. Retrieved 2017-09-27.
  9. "New play based on Alasdair Gray novel among project backed by Creative Scotland". HeraldScotland. Retrieved 2017-09-27.
  10. "From Janine to Haneen: an Egyptian adaptation of Alasdair Gray's novel". www.the-tls.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-09-27.
  11. 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.
  12. "Edinburgh Festival, review, Chill Habibi: A great evening's entertainment". The Independent. 2017-08-21. Retrieved 2017-09-27.
  13. "Megaphone project launches to promote black artists in Scotland | News | The Stage". The Stage. 2017-03-13. Retrieved 2017-09-27.
  14. "Arts News: Scottish-Egyptian playwright launches anti-Racist kickstarter, Scots in Romantic Novel Awards, new show at GSA". Evening Times. Retrieved 2017-09-27.
  15. "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.
  16. "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.
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