Niqabi Ninja by Sara Shaarawi

NIQABI NINJA by Sara Shaarawi

Directed by Catrin Evans

Niqabi Ninja by Sara Shaarawi is a graphic-novel style revenge story about one woman’s transformation into a Cairene vigilante, as she attempts to right the wrongs of the male violence she sees all around her.

Combining street artwork, audio-story performance and a walk through your city, you are invited to immerse yourselves in Hana’s world. Searing with dark comedy, this is a fearless reflection on the lengths women are willing to go to keep themselves and others safe.

Intimate, visceral and pulsating with a soundtrack to inspire your own resistance against gendered and state violence, this will be an intimate performance to be experienced in pairs or small groups.

Originally written in reaction to the 2012-2014 mob sexual assaults in Tahrir Square, this is a story about rape culture and male violence, a violence that operates everywhere and isn’t limited to one part of the world.

This August, we present this experience simultaneously in 5 locations across Scotland – Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness. We want this collective experience to offer the space for audiences to think about what it means to walk in public space without fear.

We don’t want finances to prevent anybody from attending this performance.  Please feel free to contact our Box Office for a discount code which will give you a free ticket should you require one.

A note from the team about presenting this piece in this moment
We understand that the content and form of this work could be triggering for people. Whilst we invite people who have to endure male and misogynistic violence to experience what we have made (including but not exclusive to women, trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming people), we understand if you choose not to. In fact, we especially encourage those for whom this is not a daily threat to engage with this performance. If you would like any further information or a transcript of the performance before you attend, please email access@independentartsprojects.com.

We offer this piece of work as a contribution to the struggle. We hope that eventually – together – things can be forced to change and all those who encounter male and misogynistic violence can be safe on the street, in their homes or wherever the hell else they want to be.

Information
The starting point for each performance will be the venue you have booked your tickets from. The show will be experienced through headphones and will involve following a designated walking route. The piece will last around 75 minutes.

We recommend you book in pairs or groups, as we feel this is a piece to experience with someone you know and trust, who you can reflect with afterwards.

Ahead of the performance, ticket holders will be sent more detailed information about how they will experience the show.

Creative Team
Writer – Sara Shaarawi
Director – Catrin Evans
Associate Director – Niroshini Thambar
Composer – BalQeis
Sound Designer – Nik Paget-Tomlinson
Illustrator – Gehan Mounir

Cast
Performer – Rebecca Banatvala
Performer – Juliana Yazbeck

An Independent Arts Projects Production in association with Hewar Company, Alexandria. Co-commissioned by Shubbak Festival and supported by British Council Arts Digital Collaboration Fund, Creative Scotland and Edinburgh International Festival.

Presented in Aberdeen in partnership with Aberdeen Performing Arts.