Union's Department of Theatre and Dance presents a staged reading of British playwright Robin Soans' docudrama “The Arab-Israeli Cookbook” Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m. in the Yulman Theatre.
The event is free and open to the public.
Directed by Artist-in-Residence Patricia Culbert, the play is a slice of life from 40 ordinary individuals from Israel, Gaza and the West Bank. Their real-world experiences and overwhelming desire for peace were gleaned through documentary-style interviews in a world where food and traditions offer the only semblance of constancy.
In 2003, Soans traveled with directors Rima Brihi and Tim Roseman to the war-torn countries where Christians, Muslims and Jews live side-by-side in turmoil. There, they sampled food from restaurants, cafes and people's homes.
“Each person had a story to tell and a recipe to share,” said Soans.
The popular play made its world premiere in London in May 2004, and its United States premiere the following year at The Met Theatre in Los Angeles.