Spooky Action Theater Opens New Season with American Premiere of Hakawatis: Women of the Arabian Nights
Spooky Action Theater launches its 2026/27 REMIX season with the American premiere of Hakawatis: Women of the Arabian Nights, a feminist reimagining of the classic Arabian Nights by Irish Palestinian playwright Hannah Khalil, with contributions from Hanan Al-Shaykh, Suhayla El-Bushra and Sara Shaarawi, and translations by Hassan Abdulrazzak. Presented in association with Solas Nua, the production runs September 24 through October 18, 2026 at Spooky Action's home at Universalist National Memorial Church, 1810 16th St NW, Washington, DC.
The word hakawati means storyteller, drawn from the Arabic terms "hekaye," meaning story, and "haki," meaning to talk. It is a fitting title for a play in which storytelling is quite literally a matter of survival. A tyrant avenges his wife's infidelity by wedding, bedding and beheading a new bride every day. Years later, only five brides-in-waiting remain. These women are unapologetic and united in their fight to keep themselves — and the whole of womankind — alive. They have other ideas for their future, and it starts with a story. A hit at London's Globe, the play captivates with tales that are funny, raunchy, and dangerous — and a matter of life and death.
Mekala Sridhar directs a cast featuring Gigi Cammaroto, Surasree Das, Gowri Koneswaran, Raghad Makhlouf, and Laura Zee.
For Spooky Action, the production reflects the company's ongoing commitment to international voices and cross-cultural collaboration. "Situated in the heart of one of the most international cities in the U.S., Spooky Action thrives on cross-cultural collaboration. Producing American and international plays with artists whose roots spread all over the world, we believe that our moment calls for global perspectives. Irish-Palestinian writer Hannah Khalil, whose work first got introduced in DC through Solas Nua's reading series, uses the beloved world classic "1001 Nights" as a springboard to remind us that solidarity across parallel struggles is the most potent weapon against tyranny," said Artistic Director Elizabeth Dinkova.
The partnership with Solas Nua brings together two companies with a shared artistic sensibility. "I often feel that Spooky and Solas are spiritual partners in the way we think about theatre. Both companies enjoy pushing the boundaries, are inventive with how we present our work, and relish in creativity and imagination to bring stories to life. Front and center throughout this story about stories, is Spooky Action and Solas Nua's vision for vibrant, innovative storytelling," said Rex Daugherty, Solas Nua's Artistic Director of Theatre.
Hakawatis: Women of the Arabian Nights, presented by Spooky Action Theater in association with Solas Nua, runs September 24 to October 18, 2026