Click here!

One Thousand and One Nights (Parts 1 & 2)

One Thousand and One Nights (Parts 1 & 2)Photo: Cylla von Tiedemann

Part of EIF 2011

Erotic, brutal, witty and poetic, One Thousand and One Nights are the never-ending stories told by the young Shahrazad under sentence of death to King Shahrayar. Maddened by the discovery of his wife's orgies, King Shahrayar believes all women are unfaithful and vows to marry a virgin every night and kill her in the morning. To survive, Shahrazad spins a web of tales night after night, leaving the King in suspense when morning comes, thus prolonging her life for another day.

Written in Arabic from tales gathered in India, Persia and across the great Arab empire, these mesmerizing stories tell of the real and the supernatural, love and marriage, power and punishment, wealth and poverty, and the endless trials and uncertainties of fate. Read more …

Dramatised and directed by Tim Supple, with stories adapted by the acclaimed Lebanese novelist Hanan al-Shaykh, One Thousand and One Nights comes from the pulsating heart of today's Arabic speaking world and is performed by actors, musicians and a creative team from Egypt, Tunisia, Syria, Lebanon, Algeria, Morocco, Paris and London.

One Thousand and One Nights is told in two compelling parts each of which can be seen and enjoyed on its own; or see both in the same day and fully immerse yourself in these remarkable tales for a truly intoxicating Festival experience.

For details and to book One Thousand and One Nights Part 2, go here. Get a 10% discount on each ticket when you buy for both parts in the same transaction.

Please note these performances contain adult themes that may not be suitable for children.

More information on this production is available at eif.co.uk.

The critical consensus

Once you get used to the disappointment that unlike Supple’s acclaimed 2008 A Midsummer Night’s Dream, One Thousand and One Nights is not going to feature cartwheels, people dropping from the ceiling and actors climbing all over the walls, you’ll realise that yet again, his staging is perfect.

Lauren Paxman, The Stage, 22/08/2011

It's six hours long, and in Arabic, but don't be put off: this retelling of ancient stories is both mesmerising and thoroughly modern.

Kate Bassett, The Independent on Sunday, 28/08/2011

It's sad that this important project is not more vibrant.

Susannah Clapp, The Observer, 28/08/2011

One Thousand And One Nights is a perfect piece of festival theatre.

Mark Brown, The Herald, 28/08/2011


Features about One Thousand and One Nights (Parts 1 & 2)

Uncompromising take on One Thousand and One Nights at 2011 EIF

Mark Fisher, The List, 07/07/2011

Edinburgh Festival 2011: Tim Supple on One Thousand and One Nights

Dominic Cavendish, The Telegraph, 02/08/2011

One Thousad and One Nights: Dangerous liaisons

Hermione Hoby, The Guardian, 09/08/2011

Retelling One Thousand and One Nights

Hanan Al-Shaykh, The Guardian, 12/08/2011

The neverending stories of One Thousand and One Nights cast their spell

Neil Cooper, The Herald, 15/08/2011

Where and when?

Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh from Sunday August 21, 2011, until Saturday September 3, 2011. Shown in two seperate parts. Check EIF for specific times for Parts 1 and 2.. More info: www.lyceum.org.uk

Comments: 0 (Add)

To post a comment, you need to sign in or register. Forgotten password? Click here.

Find a show


Search the site


Find us on …

Find us on FacebookFollow us on TwitterFind us on YouTube

Click here!