
Niqabi Ninja by Sara Shaarawi - Edinburgh International Festival
TICKETS FOR NIQABI NINJA GO ON SALE FRIDAY 11 JUNE, 10AM
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.
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.
Audiences will be offered a series of staggered start-times across the run in each venue.
With each timeslot, there will be space for group bookings or paired bookings. 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.
Content: misogynistic violence, strong language. 16+ Guidance
Cast and Credits
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.
Dates, Times & Prices
TICKET PRICES
Pay What You Can: £5 / £10 / £15
Pay It Forward: £20 (buys an additional ticket who would otherwise be restricted from viewing due to financial barriers)
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.
DATES
12 - 14, 17-21 and 24 - 28 August
WALK TIMES
Each walk will run for 1hr 15minutes*. Start times are:
- 6:45pm
- 7:15pm
- 7:45pm
- 8:15pm
- 8:45pm
- 9:15pm
*BSL users: please allow 1hr 45mins
Age Guidance - 16+
Accessibility
A route map will be available to all audience members (online and hard copy) outlining the route, sensory and practical information (toilets, busy roads, noisy areas) as well as links to support for survivors and potential activists
- There will be a wheelchair accessible route.
- Audio based descriptions of the site-based illustrations are built into the audio experience.
- A filmed BSL version will be available (please note, the duration for the BSL interpretation will be approx. 1hr 45m.
- A short access film of the route will be available 48 hours in advance.
- We offer free tickets to carers and personal assistants.
If you have any questions about access, please contact the company on access@independentartsprojects.com