Almost Live | A History of Water in the Middle East

Wednesday January 27, 2021 at 6:30 pm Pacific Time via Zoom

“What form can something take without water?”

British-Egyptian poet, playwright and performer Sabrina Mahfouz always loved the mix of places and rivers she grew up around – the Thames, Tees, Nile, Essequibo. When she applied to be a spy, she realised that in Britain, an identity not easily defined can be considered a risk in ways she was not aware of before. Now she’s on her own intelligence mission to explore how the water of the Middle East has enabled British power through the ages and how Britain still affects landscapes, lives and legacies in the Middle East today.

In a hybrid ‘gig-lecture’ style, the performance uses poetry, comedy and an eclectic mix of musical styles to explode some of the perceived myths around British involvement in the Middle East throughout history.

Originally produced for the stage by the Royal Court Theatre in London, this audio play will be presented with a descriptive introduction.


The VocalEye virtual lobby opens at 6:30 pm Pacific Time for some pre-show mingling with host Amy Amantea. The pre-show introduction will begin at 6:45 pm with a descriptive introduction from Eileen Barrett. The audio performance begins at 7 pm. The running time is approximately 65 minutes followed by a discussion with local award-winning playwright and artistic director emeritus of Neworld Theatre, Marcus Youssef. BC Residents will be entered into a draw for a $20 White Spot gift card.

Register for your VocalEye Zoom invitation by contacting events@vocaleye.ca or call 604-364-5949. Please let us know where you’re from and if you identify as a member of the blind/partially sighted community or as a sighted supporter. This one-time registration will give you access to all upcoming Virtual VocalEye events.

“Education, entertainment and sheer incandescent fury co-exist side by side in this remarkable, genre-confounding new show.”What’s on Stage

“Poet Sabrina Mahfouz uses songs, music and humour to deliver an impassioned assault on British imperialism.”The Guardian