Thread by @aleyakassam

I am beyond excited about this!

The world premiere of Theatre for One, Nairobi Edition by @NYUADArtsCenter

1 audience member. 1 performer.1 micro play

I've been working on this for months & it's so precious to me. I'll share some process in a thread

Week One sold out within hours, but you can get (free) tickets for Week Two if you keep an eye on this link.

They should be going on sale in the next hour or so...I'll let you know

#TheatreForOne

nyuad-artscenter.org/en_US/events/2…

I'm prepping for my tech rehearsal...so here's a song for you, this one very specifically I was listening to as I wrote the very first draft, and it definitely seeped into the piece

#TheInterview #TheatreForOne

And some photos that led up to here...

#TheInterview #TheatreForOne

Tech rehearsal done!

(Three time zones, three continents, an incredible crew, one tiny location, many cables, charcoal under my fingernails, under my eyes, under my lips, gratitude on my tongue)

#TheInterview
#TheatreForOne

(to be performing in community with these 5 other incredible writer performers, eish!

Mumbi Kaigwa
Sitawa the Third Namwalie
Mercy Mutisya
Anne Moraa
Laura Ekumbo

My, goodness (as Mithu would say), what an honour.

A sort of start...

(When we were little, in my Nana Bapa's home, once a week we'd brush our teeth with this.. dip our damp fingertips into the fine black powder, then rub our teeth, and grin charcoal gummed into the mirror to delight each other)

This afternoon in experiments
1) How long does the coal need to be lit before I add the oud?
2) When making anjar is it better to use cotton pads or wool?
3) How much ghee should the cotton gulp?
4) What's the best way to remove anjar from flesh?
#TheInterview #TheatreForOne

Today is (so far)
- disappearing mouse's/mice
- unlatching microphones
- tape that won't stick
- little balls of fire
- bone deep exhaustion

Though I did figure out cotton wool works better than cotton pads

(Look at those golden tipped clouds)

(an aftermath)

#TheInterview
#TheatreForOne

(I am so excited to be performing again...it's been so so so long...& even though I'm so tired, there's an aliveness inside me, a sort of buzzing energy that I'm so grateful for... And the Theatre For One crew are extraordinary, coordinating this tech virtually from 3 time zones)

Charging my energy...with light, with air, with breath, in blues and through the greens...

(So much of the piece I perform is in darkness and smoke, that it feels urgent to emerge and gulp down fresh air)

#TheInterview #TheatreForOne

Sigh

Today is broken glass, broken ceramic, falling blankets, falling blankets, falling blankets

No internet

Well, what did I expect...that Badr wouldn't exact a price from me?

(by the end of this run my set is going to smells like a desi bride's groin)

#TheInterview

(Badr dreams in neon)

Yesterday's tech runs were just extraordinary....reflecting on how many professionals from different parts of the world have come together over so many hours to make this happen

Cotton pads are less flammable than cotton wool.

This is a wonderful discovery

When I was a newborn, every day my great grandmother used to come home and massage my limbs. And then she'd prepare all the things needed to make anjar, so my mum could smudge the soot behind my ear to ward off the evil eye

Today, I miss her.

#TheInterview
#TheatreForOne

(of course, what was I to expect...that they wouldn't exact a price? ...all I can say is I am deeply grateful for the mercy they are showing in what they ask from me)

This is not me

#TheInterview
#TheatreForOne

(me, I am in awe of how the crew and tech team manage the machinations behind all of this...the team that you don't get to see...that we often don't get to see...just incredible...it's one of my favourite things about theatre, how much it is a collaborative endeavour)

Opening night
2 hours
Possibly up to 10 runs
10 human audience members
And so I am preparing...for each one their own flame, their own protection

#TheInterview
#TheatreForOne

For tonight's shows, on an almost full moon, I warm you up with this track

(The fragrance of oud reminds me of the fragrance of henna...And at the core, this piece is about love...this show is about connection)

I'm looking forward to seeing you tonight

Full disclosure - Mithu is visiting, so if you're attending today's performances, I can't 💯 promise we won't get a surprise guest 😂

Mithu was outside the door, waiting for me to finish, and when I came out, he said Masi, can we go feed the birds?

#IfYouKnowYouKnow

Today was just beautiful

Thank you @NYUADArtsCenter for this beautiful bouquet.

Theatre folk, when was the last time your received flowers? 😭

(It's been so special creating these theatrical experiences with people from around the world....I can't wait for tonight)

We are here

(Listening to Abida Parveen as I set up)

(spent - a wonderful run but back to back to backs take a lot out - grateful for a shower and for bed)

This evening, breathing and gathering energy with this hypnotic song from Susheela Raman, shared by @activecultures

(come as you are beloved, we are here, as we are)

(an aftermath, tracing lines of protection)

Badr lives in the bathroom
It reminds them of the ocean

A cleansing as I clean

(With prayers for breath for peace for love for kindness for relief for laughter for freedom for you for you for you)

(reluctant to leave)

(today one of the humans across the screen from me was smoking, and all I wanted was to reach across and pluck it from his fingers, take a deep deep drag into my lungs, and pass it back to him)

Last night there was a lot of grief shared

We made room for it together, and allowed it to take up space

And today the layers of it stay seeped into my flesh, lingering like the fragrance of oud in my hair.

It is a lot

May today be extra gentle with all of us

Feeling a little mournful about having to say goodbye to Badr (in the way we've been intimate the last few months)

(still...)

(That rain. And this power. May it hold out till the close of closing night)

Lol.

The power went.

Of course.

Khuda Hafiz Badr

( the morning after )

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