Rarely is theatre a matter of life and death. But for Monirah Hashemi that’s exactly what it became.
Four years ago she was performing in Stockholm and when she returned to Afghanistan she and her family faced calls for her to be ‘dealt with’ unless she stopped working with theatre.
For Monirah there was no option but to seek asylum in Sweden and continue her storytelling. She has now been granted permanent residency in her adopted country.
Sitaraha – The Stars
During a teaching and lecture tour, “Exchange Instead Of Charity – Culture As A Tool For Citizenship And Democracy”, she wrote Sitaraha – The Stars.
Sitaraha weaves the captivating tales of three real Afghan women with beautiful traditional dance and song.
Spanning 130 years, the story tells of women’s daily existence, often struggling to survive against the odds.
Monirah’s voice is the perfect instrument for telling the triumphs and agonies these women face.
UK premiere
The UK premiere takes place here on the Isle of Wight.
It will be followed by an optional talk by Monirah and her director, Leif Persson of Sweden’s National Theatre, on The Role of The Arts in International Diplomacy.
Book now
There are a choice of venues and nights that you can see Sitaraha performed live on the Isle of Wight.
Contact the venues directly to book your tickets for this rare treat for the Island.
- Ryde School, 7 Queen’s Rd, Ryde on Saturday 15th October at 7pm. Tickets £7/£5 562229
- Quay Arts, Sea St, Newport on Wednesday 19th October. Tickets £10/£7 822490
- Ventnor Exchange, Church Street, Ventnor on Thursday 20th October. Tickets £10 716767
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