The Shroud Maker | Palestine
Playwright: Ahmed Masoud
Director: Maren Rosenberg
Partner: Uprising Theater, Medina Theater Collective, Intercultural Music Production
Synopis: From the critically acclaimed Palestinian writer Ahmed Masoud, who was born and raised in Gaza. Hajja Souad, an 80-year old Palestinian woman living on the besieged Gaza Strip, knows about business. She has survived decades of wars and oppression through making shrouds for the dead. A compelling black comedy, The Shroud Maker delves deep into the intimate life of ordinary Palestinians to weave a highly distinctive path through Palestine’s turbulent past and present. Loosely based on a real-life character still living in Gaza, this one-woman comedy weaves comic fantasy and satire with true stories told first hand to the writer and offers a vivid portrait of Palestinian life in Gaza underscored with humor.
Ahmed Masoud is the author of the acclaimed novel Vanished - The Mysterious Disappearance of Mustafa Ouda. Ahmed is a writer and director who grew up in Palestine and moved to the UK in 2002. Last year he worked with Maxine Peake on Obliterated, a theatrical experiment and artistic protest. You can learn about it here. Ahmed's theatre credits include Application 39 (WDR Radio, Germany 2018) Camouflage (London 2017) The Shroud Maker (London 2015-2019), Walaa, Loyalty (London 2014, funded by Arts Council England), Go to Gaza, Drink the Sea (London and Edinburgh 2009) and Escape from Gaza (BBC Radio 4, 2011) Ahmed is the founder of Al Zaytouna Dance Theatre (2005) where he wrote and directed several productions in London, with subsequent European Tours. After finishing his PhD research, Ahmed published many journals and articles including a chapter in Britain and the Muslim World: A historical Perspective (Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2011). An earlier version of Vanished won the Muslim Writers Awards (London 2011 supported by Penguin Books). For more information, please visit www.ahmedmasoud.co.uk.
Maren Rosenberg (she/her) is the co-artistic director of Uprising Theater. Uprisings is an interdisciplinary arts non profit dedicated to giving voice to the people of Palestine and other historically marginalized communities.
www.uprisingtheater.org Maren, in addition, is an actor, producer with a focus on immersive experience. Maren lived and worked in Palestinian on theater, television, film, and circus for many years before resettling in Chicago. www.marenrosenberg.com
Playwright Ahmed Masoud
