Palestinian memory takes the stage through humour and loss

TDT | Manama

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Palestinian artist and writer Raida Taha brought stories of history, identity and loss to the stage in Bahrain, using humour and personal memories to explore some of the region’s most difficult experiences.

Taha performed her monodrama “Qatr Al-Nada” at the Shaikh Ebrahim bin Mohammed Al-Khalifa Center for Culture and Research on Monday, opening the centre’s 25th cultural season, “The Most Beautiful History Was Tomorrow”.

Drawing on her theatrical experience and personal memories, Taha wove together moments from Palestinian and Arab history with stories of everyday life.

The solo performance examined identity, belonging and human relationships through a personal lens, presenting Palestinian memory through storytelling rather than historical narration.

“Qatr Al-Nada” combined satirical comedy with the pain of loss, allowing Taha to approach difficult experiences with humour while retaining their emotional depth.

Regarded as a prominent figure in Palestinian theatre, Taha has frequently transformed personal experiences and memories into theatrical works connecting individual stories with wider questions of culture, history and identity.

Her notable works include “Where Can I Meet You, Ali?”, “36 Abbas Street / Haifa”, “The Fig Tree” and “Dew Drop”.

Through these works, she has explored memory, biography and Palestinian storytelling from a human perspective that reaches beyond individual places and historical events.