Hagar, Sarah and Eve discuss the beginning of the world and the position of women.
A twelve year old Iranian girl rides on her bike with her hair flowing freely in the wind and is beheaded for immodesty.
A Jewish granddaughter challenges her grandmother’s vision of womanhood.
In Jerusalem a Jewish woman is harassed by Jews and Muslims for having bare arms.
An Iranian woman who has left for the West must face a challenge from the women left behind.
The play examines how monotheism sees the role of women.
SONG
TUNISIAN LULLABY
She who gives birth to a girl
Deserves to be hit with a pottery mug
And her husband not to sleep with her any more
She deserves his anger
She deserves to be tied up
But she who gives birth to a boy
Deserves the minaret and the village
Deserves a basket of henna
Jingling anklets
A sheep slaughtered for her
Great celebration
A big barbecue
And the fat tail of a sheep
She who brings good news of a son
Deserves a camel load of good things
A house facing East towards Mecca
Servants and slaves
A good foreign slave
A handsome man servant
And she who bears a girl
Deserves a blow with a mug
Deserves to stay at home
To be hidden away
Production History
Premiered 1983 Drill Hall
Painting by Anne Sassoon