Improvised Stories from Kitab Al-Hikayat
Halim Al-Hakawati
BEHOLD! Halim, the Hakawati – a storyteller for the ages! SILENCE! Never mind you have never heard of him… HE is indeed the most famous Hakawati in the world… You’re just going to have to trust him on this! SADNESS! Halim pities you should you miss this opportunity to witness his telling of tales from the legendary Kitab Al-Hikayat - The Book of Stories!
Attend other shows at your own PERIL!
Performed by Raffi Feghali
Directed by Stephen Kearin
Poster design by Ely R Noujaim - ern
“All alone, yet with all of them”
Halim Al-Hakawati is a solo improv show that was experimented with in Riga, Latvia in February of 2018 and later performed once again during the same tour. After the imposed break of a couple of years (remember COVID-19?), Stephen Kearin came in as the director. The new and upgraded version of the show premiered at Welcome! 2023 Improv Festival in Rome in May 2023.
Halim is the sole owner of Kitab Al-Hikayat - The Book of Stories. Legend has it that this book contains every story that has ever existed and that will ever exist in the world. Halim tells us the stories from it while we see them come to life. He is joined by Kareem and Saeed; because what is an improv show without music and lights?
“Kitab Al-Hikayat”
Halim Al-Hakawati in its earliest version in Riga in 2018
Last stop:
Mezrab - Amsterdam, Netherlands
The Mezrab was where Halim was hosted for the first time in the Netherlands! It was the first time in which Halim told only two stories that were both longer than usual. Halim finally met what he kept hearing is the “most generous audience in the world”. He wasn’t that impressed.
Earlier:
Le Monnot Theater - Beirut, Lebanon
Le Monnot Theater hosted 8 performances of Halim Al-Hakawati in September 2023. During this run, Halim told more than 24 stories from various genres. I also discovered that Halim, IF HE WANTS, can tell stories suitable for children.
This run was in Arabic.
Here are some photos from the show at Laban Studio taken by Yara Abi Nader
Next stop:
Halim is touring!
Here are the dates and places where you can catch Halim next:
November 9, 2024 @ 19:00 as part of the Amsterdam Storytelling Festival @ Podium Mozaïek, Amsterdam (English)
November 24, 2024 in Montreal - One show in Arabic and one show in English. Details to follow, but book your calendars
November 26, 2024 @ Theater De Richel, Amsterdam. A show in Arabic. Details to follow, but book your calendars.