HAKAWATIS: WOMEN OF THE ARABIAN NIGHTS

Performance
Performance: Thu, 10/08 7:30 PM - Post-Show Discussion
Seat Group
Seat Group: General Admission
$50.00
$50.00

HAKAWATIS: WOMEN OF THE ARABIAN NIGHTS by Hannah Khalil

With contributions from Hanan Al-Shaykh, Suhayla El- Bushra and Sara Shaarawi. Translations by Hassan Abdulrazzak

Directed by Mekala Sridhar

Featuring Gigi Cammaroto, Surasree Das, Gowri Koneswaran, Raghad Makhlouf, and Laura Zee.

September 24 - October 18, 2026

In association with Solas Nua

 

'Hakawati /hakəˈwɑːti/. Noun: Storyteller. From the Arabic terms hekaye meaning story and haki meaning to talk.

 

A tyrant avenges his wife’s infidelity by wedding, bedding and beheading a new bride every day. Years later, only five brides-in-waiting remain. These women are unapologetic, and united in their fight to keep themselves – and the whole of womankind – alive. They’ve got other ideas for their future, and it starts with a story. In this London Globe hit by Irish-Palestinian playwright Hannah Khalil, you’ll be captivated by tales that are funny, raunchy, and dangerous - and a matter of life and death.

 

** Helen Hayes Award RECOMMENDED **

 

"Sridhar and company STAGE EACH FANTASTICAL VIGNETTE INVENTIVELY, filling Spooky Action’s intimate venue with song, dance, comic shtick, and even puppets...it’s [the ensemble's] VERSATILITY as performers and service to the collective that SHINES more than any one performance. Together, every piece of Hakawatis serves to embrace you in the warmth of a good story...A TAPESTRY WORTH SEEING FOR YOURSELF"

 

"THOUGHTFUL, INVENTIVE AND INSPIRING. Hakawatis features a TERRIFIC ENSEMBLE OF ACTRESSES...WELL DIRECTED by Mekala Sridhar. EXCITING AND NEW...illustrates the power of storytelling to change people and to save lives, and in this case the lives of women...MESMERIZING"-- BroadwayWorld


Content transparency: contains strong and sexual language, and themes of oppression and slavery.

Running time: 2hrs plus 10 min intermission

 

SCHEDULE OF POST-SHOW DISCUSSIONS

Thursday, October 1, 7:30pm: Post show discussion with members of the creative team
Thursday, October 8, 7:30pm: 10-minute opening comedy set by Rola Zaarour before the show, and a post show conversation between Rola Zaarour and cast member Raghad Makhlouf
Saturday, October 10, 7:30pm: Post show discussion with Mona Sadeq of the American Palestinian Women's Association
Wednesday, October 14, 7:30pm: Post show discussion with members of the creative team
Thursday, October 15, 7:30pm: Post show discussion with comedian Alex Tyminski
Friday, October 16, 7:30pm: Post show discussion with Nourah Alohali, PhD researcher in Arabic literature and Islamic studies at Georgetown University.