THE SHROUD MAKER: A bittersweet satire of life in Palestine

Photography Credit(s): BetterThanReal & Constance Hui

Reviews:

‘Julia Tarnoky plays Hajja Souad with such a delicate touch as she moves across the stage. The play gives a clear picture of what was happening in Palestine after World War II… it is a timely piece of theatre to help us understand why things are as they are now, and why we, as a nation, are far from blameless.’   one4review.co.uk ★★★★

‘With humour almost unbearably close to the bone… brutal in both scope and detail, Masoud’s script interprets the tragedy of modern Palestinian history not through lenses of geopolitics, but through moments of gutting personal loss – of land, of people, of dreams. As the shroud maker continues to make her shrouds, a painful mix of tenderness and despair is revealed beneath her well-earned nihilism.’ Fest Magazine ★★★★

‘Really powerful… wonderfully written… shedding a necessary light on the turmoil every Palestinian has lived with long before last October… a script this strong at a time like this is worth seeking out.’  

British Theatre Guide ★★★★

'Julia Tarnoky… powerfully embodies the trauma one can endure over a lifetime and how it shapes the depths of one’s inner emotions. The uniqueness of The Shroud Maker lies in its bold portrayal of the British coloniser, a depiction rarely seen on modern UK theatre stages’  The Student ★★★★

‘Masoud's script subverts the cliched expectations often heaped upon art centred on the plight of the Palestinian people… a vivid timeline of a century's worth of trauma, told through the recollections of one of the few to have survived it to maturity.’ Playbill ★★★★

‘A British actor playing a Palestinian may be a juxtaposition too far for some but Julia Tarnoky’s performance draws from a deep well of emotion and resilience in an incredible performance that depicts an existence riven with the contradictions of innocence and cynicism. Masoud’s script paints a complex picture of life in an occupied territory, where the struggle for collective freedom comes into conflict with day-to-day survival.’  Morning Star ★★★★★

Audience response:

Wow! 5 star show. The brilliant performance from Julia Tarnoky had me transfixed. What a powerful one-woman show, so moving. Hajja Souad's story transported me to Palestine and touched my heart. - Suzanne

One of the most powerful shows I've ever seen! We were left in floods of tears. Needs to tour! Wow, wow, wow! - Marissa

One of the most powerful and compelling one-person shows and performances I've seen in years. The best show I saw in Edinburgh and one I'd recommend to anyone.   - Nicholas

Deeply moving and so well played. It captured my heart and I found tears rolling through my face. A must see. - Shanti

We are used to the political story of the West Bank and Gaza - The Shroud Maker gives us the human story - the pain and anguish, and the canny humour needed to survive the years of terrible conflict… Julia Tarnoky portrays a whole neighbourhood of characters in a powerful, committed performance and a fascinating play.

- Rachel

In one of the most remarkable performances I have seen in theatre, Julia Tarnoky held a riveted audience spellbound through a tour de force of storytelling. This beautifully written play is so packed full of incident it feels epic. - John