Possession / al Ghiwaya

How to treat a religiously-orientated mental illness? Is there a limit to what medicine can heal, when faced with a dark night of the soul?

Inspired by the experiences and writings of the Egyptian desert hermits, this devised ensemble performance blends Coptic, Nubian and Sufi song. The company is formed from an international collaboration of UK and Egyptian artists. The show has been made in desert retreats in Minya and Nubia.

Premiered in D-Caf Festival (Cairo) in March 2018.

Director/ designer – Tom Bailey

Performance and composition – Zizo Abdelsaid, Mohammed Ismail, Bassem Waideaa, Charlie Hendren

Sound Design – Nancy Mounir

Photography – Khaled Abdul Ahab

Supported by el Warsha Theatre, D-CAF, New Hermopolis & British Council Egypt.

Site v4.0