''Yasser'' is a
play
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* Play (activity), an activity done for enjoyment
* Play (theatre), a work of drama
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* P ...
by
Moroccan-born
Dutch novelist, playwright and
journalist
A journalist is a person who gathers information in the form of text, audio or pictures, processes it into a newsworthy form and disseminates it to the public. This is called journalism.
Roles
Journalists can work in broadcast, print, advertis ...
Abdelkader Benali. It was written in 2001, and describes the challenges and adversities faced by a
Palestinian
Palestinians () are an Arab ethnonational group native to the Levantine region of Palestine.
*: "Palestine was part of the first wave of conquest following Muhammad's death in 632 CE; Jerusalem fell to the Caliph Umar in 638. The indigenous p ...
actor in playing the role of
Shylock in
Shakespeare
William Shakespeare ( 23 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's natio ...
's ''
The Merchant of Venice''.
Plot
The play takes place in the dressing room of a provincial theatre in a European country, where character Yasser Mansour is getting ready to go and perform the role of Shylock in Shakespeare's ''The Merchant of Venice''. While preparing for this role, he elaborates on his past in
Palestine
Palestine, officially the State of Palestine, is a country in West Asia. Recognized by International recognition of Palestine, 147 of the UN's 193 member states, it encompasses the Israeli-occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and th ...
, his discrimination and the prejudices he faces as an
Arab
Arabs (, , ; , , ) are an ethnic group mainly inhabiting the Arab world in West Asia and North Africa. A significant Arab diaspora is present in various parts of the world.
Arabs have been in the Fertile Crescent for thousands of years ...
living and working in the West, and the insights into emancipation that performing the role of Shylock have given him.
Structure
''Yasser'' is a monologue, taking place in continuous time. The play makes frequent reference to ''The Merchant of Venice'', and on several occasions quotes passages of it, including the "Has not a Jew eyes" speech by Shylock in Shakespeare's original.
Production
''Yasser'' was written for production by De
Toneelschuur theatre in
Haarlem
Haarlem (; predecessor of ''Harlem'' in English language, English) is a List of cities in the Netherlands by province, city and Municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality in the Netherlands. It is the capital of the Provinces of the Nether ...
, the Netherlands, where it opened in September 2001. It won the H. G. van der Vies award for new writing, and was in the official selection for the annual Theaterfestival in 2002. An English production of ''Yasser'', translated by Terry Ezra, opened at the
Assembly Rooms
In Great Britain and Ireland, especially in the 18th and 19th centuries, assembly rooms were gathering places for members of the higher social classes open to members of both sexes. At that time most entertaining was done at home and there wer ...
on the 2008
Edinburgh Festival Fringe
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe (also referred to as the Edinburgh Fringe, the Fringe or the Edinburgh Fringe Festival) is the world's largest performance arts festival, which in 2024 spanned 25 days, sold more than 2.6 million tickets and featur ...
, in a production by Anglo-Dutch theatre company
Studio Dubbelagent. This production subsequently transferred to the
Chopin Theatre, Chicago, in October and November 2008, and to
Arcola Theatre
Arcola Theatre is in the London Borough of Hackney. It presents plays, operas and musicals featuring established and emerging artists.
The theatre building, in the former Colourworks paint factory on Ashwin Street, Dalston, houses two studio ...
, London in 2009.
External links
Abdelkader Benali's official website(also in English)
De Toneelschuur Haarlem, the Netherlands
Studio Dubbelagent
{{The Merchant of Venice
2001 plays
Plays and musicals based on The Merchant of Venice
Plays for one performer