HAKAWATIS: WOMEN OF THE ARABIAN NIGHTS

Performances

Mon Sep 21
Tue Sep 22
Wed Sep 23
Thu Sep 24
Fri Sep 25
Sat Sep 26
Sun Sep 27

No more performances this week.

Mon Sep 28
Tue Sep 29
Wed Sep 30
Thu Oct 1
Fri Oct 2
Sat Oct 3
Sun Oct 4

No more performances this week.

Mon Oct 5
Tue Oct 6
Wed Oct 7
Thu Oct 8
Fri Oct 9
Sat Oct 10
Sun Oct 11

No more performances this week.

Mon Oct 12
Tue Oct 13
Wed Oct 14
Thu Oct 15
Fri Oct 16
Sat Oct 17
Sun Oct 18

No more performances this week.
Seat Group
Seat Group: Economy
$17.00
$17.00

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, Laura Zee, Lilinaz Hakimi (understudy).

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

 

"AN ENGAGING PRODUCTION [with] snappy dialogue, and BEGUILING, bawdy tales of sex, romance, magic, and intrigue. A SHREWD reframing of "One Thousand and One Nights," Hakawatis centers five women telling stories to save their lives, fertile ground for the all-female ensemble." -- MetroWeekly


"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 Lebanese 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.