Jillian Campana Knihy

Focusing on the intersections of Western theatrical practices with diverse cultural contexts, this book examines the challenges and insights that arise when teaching or directing English-language plays in non-Western countries. It delves into the complexities of adapting Western theatre in environments where English is not the primary language, highlighting the unique discoveries and tensions that emerge from these cross-cultural exchanges.

This collection features five original short plays by Egyptian students from the American University in Cairo, created in collaboration with Jillian Campana and Dina Amin. These works are the first published plays in Egypt addressing the pervasive issue of sexual harassment, which occurs in various settings—from homes and cafes to educational and religious institutions. The plays depict a range of sexual violence, including verbal, non-verbal, physical, and visual forms, and highlight that perpetrators can be strangers, acquaintances, or even loved ones. By breaking social taboos, these dramatic texts present the realities faced by survivors of sexual harassment from diverse perspectives, including families, bystanders, victims, and perpetrators. The women portrayed are often independent, educated, and affluent, yet they experience varying degrees of harassment and violence. Supplemented by narrative commentary that contextualizes the events, the collection challenges prevailing perceptions of sexual harassment in the region and exposes the power imbalances that contribute to it. This anthology will resonate with artists, social science researchers, educators, and anyone invested in understanding sexual harassment and collaborative theater processes. Playwrights include Yehia Abdelghan, Marwan Abdelmoneim, Nour El Captan, Passant Faheem, Nour Ibrahim, Noran Morsi, and Omar Omar.