Sara Shaarawi (born 1989) is an Egyptian playwright and producer. She is chiefly known for her work in Scottish Theatre. [1]
Sara Shaarawi (born 1989) is an Egyptian playwright and producer. She is chiefly known for her work in Scottish Theatre. [1]
Shaarawi was born in 1989, raised in Cairo and settled in Scotland after studying there.[ citation needed ]
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] In August 2021, Niqabi Ninja had simultaneous runs at five cities in Scotland. [5]
Other work for theatre has included Leyla, performed at the Tron Theatre in 2017 [6] and Lifted, with her co-writer Henry Bell, which appeared at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2015 and 2016. [7]
Shaarawi is the recipient of a New Playwright's Award from Playwright's Studio [8] and the Starter Programme from the National Theatre of Scotland. [9] Other projects include a Cairene adaptation of Alasdair Gray's 1982, Janine with Henry Bell. [10] The play Haneen had a rehearsal reading in Egypt. [11]
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, [12] and as the host of its nightly cabaret, Chill Habibi. [13] Shaarawi is a founder member of The Workers Theatre, [14] and produces Megaphone, a crowdfunded residency for artists of colour in Scotland. [15]