A person sits on stage looking off into the distance

Cutting the Tightrope

Cutting the Tightrope

SCOTTISH PREMIERE

This collection of short plays audaciously explores the power of the arts in today's world events, political resistance and displays of artistic freedom. 

Following a sell-out debut at London’s Arcola Theatre in 2024, Cutting the Tightrope dives into the ever-tightening grip of censorship on artistic freedom. Created in response to silence around Palestine on UK stages, this collection of political plays arrives at the International Festival with a fresh wave of urgency.

Written by a dynamic roster of playwrights, the pieces cut to the heart of contemporary struggles – from war zones to the silencing of dissent. Praised as ‘powerful, important, moving’ by Ben Jamal, Director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, the show unflinchingly challenges the silencing of expression.
Expect an evening of daring, thought-provoking theatre that refuses to shy away from the truth. These voices demand to be heard.

"Last year, Arts Council England warned arts companies and those who work for them against making overtly political or activist statements. This collection of short plays is the urgent artistic response to that moment and audaciously explores the power of the arts in today's world events, political resistance and dialogue around artistic freedom" - Nicola Benedetti, Festival Director 

0 Stars

An opinionated, entertaining and urgent evening

The Guardian

The Warm Up: Cutting the Tightrope

Listen to The Warm Up, your bite-sized audio introduction to the performance.

Co-director Kirsty Housley describes how censorship informed this collection of political plays about the power of the arts in contemporary society. Contains discussion of racism.

Listen on Soundcloud or Spotify.

Programme

There will be a post-show talk after every performance. It will begin shortly after the performance ends and is expected to last approximately 40 minutes. You are welcome to stay for as little or as long as suits you.

The guest panelists at each performance of Cutting the Tightrope are as follows:

Thu 14 Aug: Hamish Morrison, Barnaby Raine, and Eman Alhaj Ali
Fri 15 Aug: Jess Brough, Leena Nammari and Faisal Saleh
Sat 16 Aug: Humza Yousaf (MSP), Asil Sidahmed and Dina Nayeri
Sun 17 Aug: Sara Sharaawi, Kendall Garnder, Lina Dohia

All post-show talks for Cutting the Tightrope are moderated by poet Zena Agha.

Production Credits

Creative & Production TeamsCloseOpen
  • Cressida Brown and Kirsty Housley
    Directors
  • Zainab Hasan
    Associate Artist / Director
  • Benny Goodman
    Lighting Design
  • Ed Lewis
    Sound Design
  • Matthew Schmolle
    Producer
  • Georgia Lowe
    Design Consultant
  • Will Monks
    Projection Consultant
  • Hassan Abdulrazzak, Mojisola Adebayo, Zia Ahmed, Phil Arditti, Nina Bowers, Roxy Cook, Ed Edwards, Waleed Elgadi, Dawn King, Ahmed Masoud, Joel Samuels, Sami Abu Wardeh
    Playwrights
CreditsCloseOpen
  • Sound Licence
    With special thanks to Ambient Gaza

Dive Deeper

Listen to The Warm Up: your audio introduction to the performance.

Image gallery

Photo Gallery

A bald man with a clipboard stood in the spotlight. He is wearing an ID badge.
© Credit : David Monteith Hodge
A man in a white stripy top sits and holds a palm up while a woman in a shawl takes a phone call in the background.
© Credit : David Monteith Hodge
A person wearing a pink bodysuit and a keffiyeh holds up a hand while holding a watermelon.
© Credit : Ali Wright
A sad man holds out a rose. Purple light shines on him.
© Credit : Ali Wright

Dates & Times

    Booking Information including FAQs

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    There will be a post-show talk after every performance. Post-show talks are an informal opportunity for you to connect further with artists. It will begin 10 minutes after the performance ends and is expected to last no more than 30 minutes. You are welcome to stay for as little or as long as suits you. 

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