Liverpool Arab Arts Festival (LAAF) returns to Liverpool from tomorrow, July 6 until Sunday, July 16.
Now going into its 25th year, LAAF's latest theme explores storytelling and storytellers through song, theatre, dance, performance, literature and visual art.
A hands-on day of workshops, laughs, beats and Arab arts and culture will take place at the World Museum Liverpool on Saturday, July 8. Activities include children’s craft workshops with Liverpool artist Layla Gibiliru, an adult stand-up comedy workshop with Esther Manito, and storytelling sessions with Hadi Badi books for up to eight-year-olds.
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Also included is the opportunity to learn DJ skills in a MENA Beats workshop and Dabke workshops for all ages with Fares Farra. For a three-night run of theatre, dance and storytelling, the Unity Theatre will host three unique shows lighting Arabic culture, art and passion in personal performances from storytellers all over the world.
A range of Arab musicians and composers will also bring their art to the front of several workshops, celebrations and discussions all over the city. LAAF's full schedule can be seen below.
Thursday, July 6
- 1 – 3pm: Other Cinemas workshop: How To Build Community With Film, VideOdyssey at Toxteth TV, £5/PWYC. Booking link.
- 6 – 7:30pm: And still, it remains – commissioned film premiere with Arwa Aburawa, Leila Gamaz and Amina Atiq, VideOdyssey at Toxteth TV, £6/PWYC. Booking link.
Friday , July 7
- 6:00pm: Liverpool Arab Arts Festival VIP Launch, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall.
- 7:30pm: Festival launch gig with Somali-British singer Aar Maanta, with support from rising star, Nxdia, Liverpool Philharmonic Music Room, £12/10. Booking link.
Saturday, July 8
- 12 - 4pm: Family Weekender at World Museum Liverpool. Workshops, artist activities and family friendly activities at World Museum Liverpool. Free but ticketed. Booking link.
- 12:00pm & 2:30pm: Said Mouhssine, Taroo, Street performances at Liverpool ONE. FREE.
- 7:30pm: Arab Are Not Funny stand-up comedy featuring Esther Manito, Fatiha El Ghorri, Farah Sharp and Talal Karkouti. Royal Court Liverpool Studio. £12. In association with Arts Canteen. Booking link.
Sunday, July 9
- 2:00 – 4pm: The Last Queen, SAFAR Film Festival 2023, Storyhouse (Chester). Full price £8.90 / Members £8.00 / Young Members £5.00 / Under 16 £7.40. Booking link.
Monday, July 10
- Liverpool Arab Arts Festival at 25: A digital programme celebrating 25 years since the organisation was founded, featuring music, playlists, videos and archive footage of past performances. Free.
- 12 – 4pm: And still, it remains – special screenings of Arwa Aburawa and Turab Shah’s new commission for LAAF. The 18-minute film explores climate justice looking directly at the toxic legacy of French nuclear tests in the Algerian Sahara in the 1960’s. The Pod. Baltic Triangle. Free.
Tuesday, July 11
- 7:30pm: Passports, Mo Salah, Jinn and Other Complicated Things. Writers Ahmed Masoud and Farah Chamma present an experimental new performance, presented both live and digitally, work exploring Palestinian identity beyond borders at Unity Theatre. Unity Theatre. £10/8. Booking link.
Wednesday, July 12
- 7:30pm: Self-Entitlement. Autobiographical solo dance performance by Egyptian dancer Mahmoud El Haddad, Unity Theatre. £10/8. Booking link.
Thursday, July 13
- 11am – 1pm: An introduction to Raks Baladi: dance workshop with Mahmoud El Haddad, VideOdyssey, Toxteth TV, £5 / Pay What You Can
- 8pm: what the dog said to the harvest. A groundbreaking call for climate justice drawing on opera, dance, spoken word, immersive sound and film. With lisa luxx and jasmin kent rodgman, Unity Theatre £10. In association with Shubbak Festival. Booking link.
Friday, July 14
- 7:30pm: Maya Youssef, Finding Home, Liverpool Philharmonic Music Room £12/10. Booking link
Saturday 15 July
- 12 – 3pm: LAAF x Bluecoat: an afternoon of workshops, music and storytelling at. Bluecoat. Free, booking required (links are not yet live)
- 2 – 3:30pm: Mona Kareem and Nashwa Nasreldin, I Will Not Fold These Maps, LUSH Liverpool, £6/PWYC. Booking link.
- 1:30-4pm: Our Dreams of Jasmine book launch & listening event, Bootle Library. Associate event with At The Library. Free.
Sunday 16 July
- 12 - 5:00pm: Family Day. Featuring authentic Arab music, performances, food, drink, craft and storytelling. Artists include The Ayoub Sisters, Iraqi Maqamat led by Ahmed Mukhtar. Sefton Park Palm House. Free
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