Kunafa and Shay

HowlRound Theatre Commons
  • 5.0 (4)
  • PERFORMING ARTS
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY
Kunafa and Shay

Kunafa and Shay focuses on Middle Eastern and North African (MENA)/Southwest Asian and North African (SWANA) theatre—highlighting classic and contemporary plays and theatremakers, spotlighting community-engaged work in the region and diaspora, and analyzing the past, present, and future of MENA/SWANA theatre in the United States. Theatre artists and scholars Nabra Nelson and Marina Johnson bring their own perspectives, research, and special guests in order to start a dialogue and encourage further learning and discussion. The name, Kunafa and Shay, invites you into the discussion in the best way we know how: with complex and delicious sweets like kunafa, and perfectly warm tea (or, in Arabic, shay). Kunafa and Shay is a place to share experiences, discuss ideas, and sometimes engage with our differences.

  1. Palestinian Drag in the Diaspora with Mama Ganuush

    NOV 4

    Palestinian Drag in the Diaspora with Mama Ganuush

    Hosts Marina Johnson and Nabra Nelson interview Palestinian African trans drag artist Mama Ganuush. They discuss the vibrant drag scene in San Francisco, Mama Ganuush's journey into drag, and the intersection of activism, identity, and performance.

    52 min
  2. Feminist Performance Art with Rima Najdi

    OCT 29

    Feminist Performance Art with Rima Najdi

    This episode dives into the performance art of Lebanese artist Rima Najdi. From Hollywood's portrayal of Arab women to navigating complex personal and political landscapes, this thought-provoking discussion highlights the power of performance art in creating social change.

    43 min
  3. Performance Art on Video with Khansa

    OCT 22

    Performance Art on Video with Khansa

    Lebanese multidisciplinary artist Khansa shares his artistic journey, blending traditional Middle Eastern music with modern avant-pop, and offers a behind-the-scenes look at his creative process. This episode delves deep into the power of art as a medium for cultural fusion and storytelling.

    45 min
  4. Installation and Audience Collaboration with Tania El Khoury

    OCT 15

    Installation and Audience Collaboration with Tania El Khoury

    Live artist Tania El Khoury discusses her creative process, the ways audience participation cultivates solidarity and awareness of social justice issues, her role as the director of the Center for Human Rights and the Arts at Bard College, and the intersection of art and activism in her work.

    42 min
  5. Rant and Rave: Middle Eastern, North African, and Southwest Asian Classics and Theatre History

    AUG 13

    Rant and Rave: Middle Eastern, North African, and Southwest Asian Classics and Theatre History

    In the last episode of the fourth season of Kunafa and Shay—which was a historical and classical Middle Wastern and North African (MENA) and Southwest Asian and North African (SWANA) theatre season—Marina Johnson and Nabra Nelson reflect on the season, give some additional insight, and provide a broader overview of their framework for historical and classical theatre.

    50 min
  6. Resistant Ventriloquism and Postcolonial Courtesy

    AUG 6

    Resistant Ventriloquism and Postcolonial Courtesy

    Dr. Samer Al-Saber joins hosts Marina Johnson and Nabra Nelson for a conversation around resistant ventriloquism and postcolonial courtesy. Dr. Al-Saber also shares stories from his upcoming book about the Palestinian theatre movement in the 1970s and 1980s.

    51 min
  7. Iraqi Theatre History

    JUL 30

    Iraqi Theatre History

    Hosts Marina Johnson and Nabra Nelson learn from Dr. Amir Al-Azraki about Iraqi theatrical traditions, the birth of modern Iraqi theatre springing from church drama in Mosul in the late nineteenth century, Iraqi plays in translation, and Afro-Iraqi theatre.

    47 min
  8. Palestinian Storytelling

    JUL 23

    Palestinian Storytelling

    Hosts Marina Johnson and Nabra Nelson are joined by Fidaa Ataya, a Palestinian storyteller who talks with us about the tradition of the hakawati and how she and her work are looking at different forms of storytelling from ancient traditions to new ways of storytelling in Palestine.

    47 min
See All (47)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Kunafa and Shay focuses on Middle Eastern and North African (MENA)/Southwest Asian and North African (SWANA) theatre—highlighting classic and contemporary plays and theatremakers, spotlighting community-engaged work in the region and diaspora, and analyzing the past, present, and future of MENA/SWANA theatre in the United States. Theatre artists and scholars Nabra Nelson and Marina Johnson bring their own perspectives, research, and special guests in order to start a dialogue and encourage further learning and discussion. The name, Kunafa and Shay, invites you into the discussion in the best way we know how: with complex and delicious sweets like kunafa, and perfectly warm tea (or, in Arabic, shay). Kunafa and Shay is a place to share experiences, discuss ideas, and sometimes engage with our differences.

Information

  • Channel
    HowlRound Theatre Commons
  • Creator
    Marina J. Bergenstock, HowlRound Theatre Commons, Nabra Nelson
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2024
  • Episodes
    47
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
  • Show Website
    Kunafa and Shay

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