Contemporary Plays from Iraq: A Cradle; A Strange Bird on Our Roof; Cartoon Dreams; Ishtar in Baghdad; Me, Torture, and Your Love; Romeo and Juliet in Baghdad; Summer Rain; The Takeover; The Widow

Contemporary Plays from Iraq is a ground-breaking collection of Middle Eastern drama translated into English for the very first time. With works from both established and emerging male and female playwrights, written in country and in exile, this volume offers current Iraqi perspectives on a war and occupation that have significantly impacted the Middle East and the rest of the world. Dealing exclusively with contemporary plays originating from Iraq, this anthology gives under-studied Arabic political theatre the attention it deserves and provides a general introduction that sets the plays within their cultural and historical contexts. The plays are preceded by introductions from the playwrights themselves, further enriching each piece for the enjoyment and understanding of the reader. -- From publisher's website Contents Foreword Biographies General Introduction Introduction to The Takeover The Takeover by Hoshang Waziri Introduction to A Cradle A Cradle by Abdul-Kareem Al-Ameri Introduction to Ishtar in Baghdad Ishtar in Baghdad by Rasha Fadhil Introduction to Summer Rain Summer Rain by Abdel-Nabi Al-Zaidi Introduction to Romeo and Juliet in Baghdad Romeo and Juliet in Baghdad by Monadhil Daoud Albayati Introduction to Me, Torture, and Your Love Me, Torture, and Your Love by Awatif Naeem Introduction to A Strange Bird on our Roof A Strange Bird on our Roof by Abdul Razaq Al-Rubai Introduction to Cartoon Dreams Cartoon Dreams by Kareem Sheghaidil Introduction to The Widow The Widow by A. Al-Azraki