Desert Poet

A World Première with poetry by Imru' Al-Qays and Adnan al-Sayegh stitched and mounted by SplitMoon Theatre timed with the 20th anniversary of the allied invasion of Iraq.

                    "Oh you long night, will you ever dispel and shine?
                        Yet the dawn of day will be no better than you."
                                                                                                        (Imru' al-Qays)

At the shrine in Ankara of poet Imru' Al-Qays a disillusioned young man in search of his roots is sold a dream by a troupe of actors. He encounters poets, lovers and prophets and dreams he is al-Qays himself. When war-poet Aboud disrupts him at a poetry festival the two compete for the ultimate crown. 
     
                    "There is no home for me except the shade of a poem."
                                                                                                                (Adnan al-Sayegh)

DESERT POET travels from the urban to the ancient desert in dramatic form. It tells the complex rite of passage of many that have arrived from other cultures. For the very first time the Master Poem of Imru' Al-Qays will be presented to a European audience in Arabic and English. Exiled Iraqi poet Adnan al-Sayegh is the recipient of several international poetry awards.

Directed by Peter Stürm

Cast: Alhena al-Ali Douglas, Hadeel Kamil, Neetika Knight; Ali Zayn, Guy Burgess, Prince Owusu and Jaouhar Ben Ayed as Imru' al-Qays.

SplitMoon Theatre creates thought provoking performances with an emphasis on the skill of the actor and the magic of language. (Registered Charity No.1099644)

"Full of bravura, this is a wonder" - The Stage on "The Jungle of Cities" at the Arcola
"A terrific revival of Brecht's play" - Michael Coveney WhatsOnStage
"Genuinely Euripidean" - Tom Holland in the Hellenic World on "Killer of The Sun"  by Peter Stürm.

Photo copyright Teagan Cunniffe

Preview on Thursday 30th November tickets:
Full price: £22.00
Affordable: £18.00 (for those that cannot afford full price)
Students: £12.00
(Including £1.00 + 3% booking fee)

https://www.splitmoontheatre.org

Thursday 30 November to Saturday 2 December - 7:30pm
Plus matinee on Saturday 2 December - 3:00pm
Sunday 3 December - 4:30pm