NIQABI NINJA to Play Alexander Upstairs This Month

NIQABI NINJA, written by Sara Shaarawi, directed by Megan Furniss, and performed by Bianca Flanders and Loren Loubser, is slated for Alexander Upstairs Theatre in July and August.

NIQABI NINJA is an avenging superhero, born on the streets of Cairo, who is ready to seek out and avenge every single act of harassment she has experienced at the hands of men. She has a list, a record of injuries and a variety of punishments to mete out. Watch out, men of Cairo: Niqabi Ninja has a score to settle, and she is coming after you.

Set in Cairo during the chaotic time of the Egyptian uprising, NIQABI NINJA is an extraordinarily beautiful play giving two actresses a chance to explore the range and complexity of harassment against women, and one woman's ability to develop a response.

Sara Shaarawi is a emerging theatre-maker from Cairo who is currently based in Glasgow. She performs, writes, translates and directs, enjoying each equally.Her professional experience in Scotland began with A Play, a Pie and a Pint's season of Arab plays in 2012, where she worked as a translator, dramaturg and eventually as a performer (ONE DAY IN SPRING) as well. Since then she has attained an MA in International Performance Research (University of Amsterdam/University of Arts, Belgrade) and an MSc in European Theatre (University of Edinburgh). Her most recent writing credit was a rehearsed reading of DAY ONE at the Tron Theatre as part of Mayfesto 2014.

Director Megan Furniss is a South African born playwright, actor, writer, director and improviser. She graduated from the University of Cape Town in 1986 and worked as an actress before starting her own improvisation troupe in Cape Town. She has written and co-written numerous plays and musicals, performed and directed theatre, and she improvises and teaches improv. She has self-published a novel, and writes short stories for competitions. THE TENT, written in 2009, was published in an anthology of South African and Argentinian plays by Projecto 34° South, and was chosen as one of six African plays to be workshopped and showcased at the National Theatre Studio in London in 2011. DRIVE WITH ME, a one-woman show written and performed by Megan Furniss, won a Standard Bank Ovation Award at the National Arts Festival in 2013. Megan has also won a Fleur du Cap award for Innovation in Theatre. Her latest play is CLOUDS LIKE WAVES .

Bianca Flanders is an actress, voice artist and teacher based in the Western Cape. She graduated from the University of Cape Town in 2011 with a degree in Theatre and Performance and then obtained her Post-graduate Certificate of Education in 2012. Her most recent productions include David Kramer's BLOOD BROTHERS and ORPHEUS IN AFRICA, Jaco Bouwer's IN ONGENADE, Mari Borstlap's KRISTALVLAKTE and Nadia Tass's film AMERICAN GIRL.

Loren Loubser is a 25-year-old theatre and film actress and television presenter. Her first professional production upon graduating from the University of Cape Town's Theatre and Performance programme in 2012 was AN ABSOLUTE TURKEY at Theatre on the Bay. She has also appeared in Jacqui Singer and Gabrielle Pinto's (B)ITCHING HOUR, Thenjiwe Stemela's THE TREATMENT and Ian Gabriel's film LIFTING NICK. She also collaborated with Ella Gabriel to produce two short films, TWO ACTRESSES and THREE ACTRESSES. Since 2014, Loubser has worked extensively as a facilitator with a specific focus on youth and women empowerment using Theatre in Education to drive change.

NIQABI NINJA runs from 18 - 20 July and 1 - 3 August at 19:00. Tickets cost R90-R100 and can be booked online at the Alexander Bar website or purchased at the bar. For telephone bookings and enquiries, call 021 300 1652. Alexander Bar & Café is situated at 76 Strand Street in the Cape Town city centre and can be followed on Facebook and Twitter.

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