Nowhere

Nowhere seeks to gently push closed doors and reveal the hidden spaces behind them, inviting the audience to sit and explore together as the narration unfolds.

These accompanying post show events aim to extend that feeling of openness, creating a safe space for us to gather even after the performance ends. Here, we can linger a bit longer in these newly opened spaces and engage in meaningful conversations.

These Conversations will feature hosted panels curated by the lead artist, Khalid Abdalla, in collaboration with the Palestinian Festival of Literature. Guests, hosts and more details for each event will be announced at a later date.

Thursday 10 Oct:

Spaces of Confinement, Solidarity and Freedom

“If not now, when?”

From the political circumstances of Nowhere’s genesis in Egypt, to the creative journey to make it in a world spinning from crisis to crisis.

An interrogation of how historical and political events not only shape the narratives we tell but also influence the very process of art-making itself. How does the weight of history bear on the act of creation, and what questions does this raise about the purpose and power of art in times of upheaval?

Friday 11 Oct:

The Space of Confinement

“When nowhere is safe for some people, their nowhere exists for me too”

An exploration of confinement as a tool of repression against government critics, starting from the lived experience of “prisoners of conscience” in Egypt and in the Arab world

Thursday 17 Oct:

The Space of Solidarity

“Where are the other futures?”

Starting from the Palestinian experience, an exploration of how meaningful solidarity can be enacted, from social media to decolonisation practices.

Khalid Abdalla

Khalid Abdalla is an actor, producer, writer and filmmaker. Nowhere is his first play. He is known most notably for his performances in The Crown as Dodi Fayed, Marc Forster’s The Kite Runner, and in the Paul Greengrass features United 93 and Green Zone. He produced and starred in the Egyptian feature In the Last Days of the City, directed by Tamer El Said, and in Tala Hadid’s The Narrow Frame of Midnight, and appears in Jehane Noujaim’s Oscar nominated documentary about the 2011 Egyptian revolution The Square. He has recently completed filming on his next role in a remake of The Day of the Jackal; and is currently in rehearsals for Mnemonic with Theatre de Complicité at the National Theatre. Khalid is a founding member of three cultural initiatives in Cairo – Cimatheque, Zero Production and Mosireen. He is also an Honorary Fellow of Queens’ College, Cambridge. Brought up in the UK to Egyptian parents, Cairo and London are his two cities.

Omar Elerian

Omar Elerian is a freelance director, dramaturg, and theatre-maker. Italian of Palestinian descent, Elerian trained in Italy and then graduated from Lecoq International Theatre School in Paris in 2005. He was the resident associate director at London’s Bush Theatre from 2012 to 2019 where he commissioned and directed some of the theatre’s most successful shows. His directing credits include the smash-hit Misty by Arinzé Kene (Bush Theatre and West End), NASSIM by Nassim Soleimanpour (Bush Theatre, Traverse Theatre, and world tour), Going Through by Estelle Savasta, and Islands by Caroline Horton. His most recent directing credits include The Return of Danton and The Long Shadow of Alois Brunner, both by Syrian playwright Mudar Alhaggi, (Munich Kammerspiele, Schauspiel Leipzig, Theatre an der Ruhr – Germany); The Chairs by Eugene Ionesco (Almeida Theatre); Two Palestinians Go Dogging by Sami Ibrahim (Royal Court) and As You Like It (Royal Shakespeare Company).

Fuel

Fuel leads the field in independent producing in the UK’s live performance sector, working with brilliant artists to explore urgent questions, to shine light on how we relate to each other and the world around us, and to tell untold stories by under-represented voices. From theatres to car parks, from schools to public spaces, Fuel produces high quality new theatre that reaches diverse audiences across the UK and internationally. Fuel collaborates with outstanding theatre makers with fresh perspectives and approaches who produce shows, performances or experiences which have direct and playful relationships with their audiences. Fuel is celebrated for its pioneering producing model that develops innovative ideas through attentive collaboration, a spirit of curiosity, and an emphasis on trust. Fuel has developed a reputation for spirited and surprising new theatre, deep relationships with a wide range of artists, and passionate commitment to inclusion and care for young and diverse audiences.

Fuel was founded in 2004 and is led by Kate McGrath. Since its story began, Fuel has produced shows, festivals, films, installations, podcasts, apps and books. In doing so, Fuel has supported the artistic development of over 120 lead artists or companies and reached more than 1.5 million people, live and digitally, hosted over a hundred internships and been recognised with awards for its work. Fuel is currently working with artists and companies including Will Adamsdale, Travis Alabanza, Common Wealth, Inua Ellams, Alan Lane, Hannah Lavery, Racheal Ofori, Toby Olié, Keisha Thompson, Uninvited Guests and Melanie Wilson. Fuel is supported by Arts Council England as a National Portfolio Organisation, The Leche Trust, The Garrick Trust, The Backstage Trust, The Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, and The John Ellerman Foundation.

www.fueltheatre.com