A PLAY about Palestine that has been receiving standing ovations is to make its debut at the Edinburgh Fringe this summer.
Written by Ahmed Masoud, whose own family have been displaced from Gaza, the “compelling and moving” black comedy takes place before the most recent events but demonstrates how the failure to see people’s humanity can lead to inhumane acts.
Masoud is the writer behind the “cancellation” of Obliterated with Maxime Peake, a theatrical stunt to highlight the destruction by Israel’s bombing of the only theatre in Gaza. He is also the author of the acclaimed novels, Vanished and Come What May.
Although he left Gaza in 2022 before the current bombardment of the population, he saw many buildings bombed by Israeli warplanes as he was growing up. Masoud said that each time he saw a building destroyed a “new, sad layer” engulfed his mind.
READ MORE: Short film highlights the dangers of women walking alone
“Every time I stared towards the location of that building, a shadow appeared of what used to exist,” he said. “The people, flats, houses, rooftop solar panels, black water barrels, satellite dishes. The people who stood there and had wedding parties.”
Masoud said his play, The Shroud Maker, highlighted the humanity of the Palestinian people – their sense of humour and their great instinct for survival.
“The Palestinian narrative is often presented through the small lens of politics without reference to the vibrant culture rooted in the people’s history and memories,” he pointed out.
“What is happening in Gaza right now is an example of how people fail to understand the deep human story which expands to centuries on this land.
“The Shroud Maker addresses these issues through the personal narrative of a woman trying to survive decades of war by making shrouds for the dead, shrewdly realising that this is a good business to have in a land of conflict. Hajja Souad’s story provides both comedy and deep trauma.”
READ MORE: The delights of small-scale cruising round the Scottish islands
The play weaves comic fantasy and satire with true stories to create a vivid portrait of Palestinian life in Gaza before the Israeli invasion last October.
It centres on a woman who sells shrouds for burying the dead – the one item that is always in demand. As her past returns to haunt her, she is forced to make a big decision but first tells a harrowing story of courage, love and escape that takes audiences on the journey of her life from Aqqur through Jerusalem and Hebron to her workshop in Gaza. Along the way, much is revealed about Palestine-Israel history.
The Shroud Maker stars Julia Tarnoky whose critically acclaimed roles include Sylvia Plath in Sylvia directed by Ralph Fiennes, and Helen in Corryvreckan, for which she won the LFA Best Actress Award.
The Shroud Maker will run from July 31 until August 25, excluding August 14
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here