THEATRE PRODUCTIONS
A GRAIN OF SAND
حبّة رمل
Renad, an 11-year-old Gazan girl, embarks on a dangerous journey. Carrying only the echoes of her grandmother’s tales and the spark of her own imagination, she searches for her family and the ‘Anqaa’ - the mythical Palestinian Phoenix.
“Art confronting one of the world’s most urgent crises” - Middle East Monitor
A Grain of Sand is a one-woman show that takes an intimate look at war through the eyes of a child, blending Palestinian folklore with real-life testimonies from children in contemporary Gaza. Renad’s story is one of resilience, hope and the right of children to be children.
UK TOUR 2026
As part of the tour, we are hosting post-show Q&As at selected performances at every venue, offering audiences an opportunity to hear from the creative team. These conversations will be led by performer and co-deviser Sarah Agha - who has taken part in Q&As throughout the show’s development and previous runs - alongside a combination of various local artists, activists and community voices and writer/director Elias Matar to reflect on the creative process, the real testimonies that shaped the play, and the role of art in times of crisis. These discussions provide space for audiences to ask questions, share responses and engage collectively with the realities the play bears witness to.
Each Child a Light كل طفل نور
The run at Arcola Theatre will be accompanied by an exhibition of Each Child a Light, an international collaborative quilt project with each square dedicated to an individual child who has been killed in Gaza. Initiated and coordinated by artist Fiona Bailey, it makes visible the scale of atrocity, providing space to mourn, to mark and to remember. Fiona is also hosting an intimate quilting workshop before the matinee on Saturday 24th January, allowing participants to add to this growing testament to the lives of Gaza’s children.
“A performance of breathtaking power and nuance.”
— ★★★★★ Good News Liverpool for A Grain of Sand at Liverpool Arab Arts Festival in 2025,
Review – A Grain of Sand – Liverpool Arab Arts Festival at Unity Theatre
“A theatrical gut punch […] This is not theatre that asks for your applause. It demands your empathy. It demands your reckoning. It demands, above all, that we do not look away. And for the sake of our shared humanity—we must not”
— Liverpool Noise for A Grain of Sand at Liverpool Arab Arts Festival in 2025,
Review: A Grain Of Sand At Unity Theatre | Liverpool Noise
“This grounding in testimony lends the narrative an unflinching authenticity, giving Palestinians a powerful platform to speak their truths through art. […] Sarah Agha’s exceptional talent shines as she effortlessly transitions between moments of hope and heartbreak.”
— Strand Magazine for A Grain of Sand at London Palestine Film Festival in 2024,
‘A Grain of Sand’ Review: An Ode To The Children Of Gaza
MEET THE TEAM
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Elias Matar
Playwright and DirectorSarah Agha
Performer and Co-DeviserJoe Murphy and Joe Robertson
DramaturgyNatalie Pryce
Set and Costume DesignerNick Powell
Composer and Sound DesignerDan Light
Video DesignerJonathan Chan
Lighting DesignerKate Jones
Production ManagerJoni-Ann Falconer
Stage ManagerAmir Hussain Ibrahimi
Assistant Stage ManagerAalia Kassab, Atta Khaled, Menna Hijazi, Shaker Abuijlan, Saleem Lubbad
Gaza Voices Advisory Group -
Xenia Bayer
Lighting Designer -
Alexandra Kalisperas
Script EditorJamal Masarwa
Digital Artist
A Grain of Sand includes verbatim testimonies from children in contemporary Gaza collected in the 2023 booklet A Million Kites: Testimonies and Poems from the Children of Gaza by Leila Boukarim and Asaf Luzon
Good Chance’s UK tour of A Grain of Sand has been made possible thanks to the generous and visionary support of Hassan Elmasry & Rasha Mansouri, Erik & Stephanie Nadi Olson
Good Chance produced the theatrical debut of A Grain of Sand at Unity Theatre in Liverpool as part of and supported by the Liverpool Arab Arts Festival on July 18th 2025, followed by a discussion with playwright and director, Elias Matar, actress, Sarah Agha and LPFF director, Khaled Ziada, facilitated by Good Chance co-Founder and co-Artistic Director, Joe Robertson.
A Grain of Sand was originally commissioned by the London Palestine Film Festival (LPFF) and performed at the Barbican Cinema in London on November 15th 2024, followed by a discussion with festival director, Khaled Ziada, playwright and director, Elias Matar and actress, Sarah Agha, facilitated by lawyer and writer, Selma Dabbagh.
FAQs
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A Grain of Sand is built from the real words of children living in Gaza, specifically verbatim testimonies from A Million Kites: Testimonies and Poems from the Children of Gaza, a booklet of quotes and poems by children in Gaza collected in 2023 by Leila Boukarim and Asaf Luzon. The piece was developed in dialogue with our Gaza Voices Advisory Group, a collective of Gazan writers, artists and educators who we’ve brought together to advise us on accuracy, sensitivity and representation. Their guidance continues to shape every stage of the project, from script to tour.
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The play is a human story, told through the eyes of an eleven-year-old girl named Renad. Her journey blends Palestinian folklore with real testimonies from children in Gaza, reminding us of the shared humanity behind headlines. Its aim is to bear witness - to create space for empathy, reflection and connection.
At Good Chance, we are committed to telling stories that matter - stories that speak to our shared humanity and hold the power to create change. We believe that art must respond to the world around us, especially in times of profound injustice and human suffering. From The Jungle to The Walk with Little Amal, Fly With Me, From Here On and Kyoto, or Donbas - a new play about the conflict in Ukraine, which will be playing at Theatre503 concurrently with A Grain of Sand - our work has always confronted the most urgent issues of our time. A Grain of Sand continues that mission: to stand with those whose voices are too often unheard, and to invite audiences to listen, to grieve and to act.
This is both an important story to tell and a vital moment to be brave. A Grain of Sand is a reminder of our shared responsibility to champion and protect the rights, safety and futures of children in Gaza and across the world.
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No. Good Chance Theatre is a registered charity. Any income generated from ticket sales will go directly toward tour costs, artist wages and community engagement work linked to the production. The company’s mission is to share stories that build understanding and solidarity, not to make profit.
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A Grain of Sand deals with loss and trauma in the context of the reality we’re witnessing unfold either through lived experience or live on our screens and in the news. The wellbeing of everyone involved - partners, artists and audiences - is paramount. To take care of our team and audiences we have provided clear content guidance, post-show Q&As with the creative team, signposting to humanitarian support resources, and additional support for our show team in partnership with Wellbeing in the Arts.
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We’ve created a ‘Take Action’ section on our website, offering ways to learn more and get involved; from reading further about what is happening in Gaza to writing to local representatives or supporting humanitarian organisations. We believe theatre should not only move us but motivate us toward understanding and meaningful action.
“The children of Gaza need protection. They need food, water, and medicine. They need a ceasefire. But more than anything, they need immediate, collective action to stop this once and for all.” - UNICEF
Large-scale conflicts like the one unfolding in Gaza can often leave us feeling helpless and powerless to protect civilians involved, especially children. But small acts can make a huge difference. If you have been moved and inspired to act by a performance of A Grain of Sand, we have created a toolbox of actions and ideas to advocate for the rights and freedoms of the people of Palestine.
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Sign...
A petition, like Oxfam’s call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire.
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Write...
To your local MP. Many organisations provide templates which can easily be forwarded, like Medical Aid for Palestinian’s call for the UK to protect Palestinians in Gaza or War Child’s call to stop attacks on aid in Gaza.
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Join...
Your local Community Solidarity Groups, like Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Queers for Palestine, Na’amod and Jewish Voice for Peace.
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Donate...
To organisations on the front line, like Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) and Choose Love which provide vital supplies, medicines and humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza, The West Bank, Lebanon and the surrounding region.
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Listen...
To real voices of the people involved. Books like A Million Kites: Testimonies and Poems from the Children of Gaza centre and amplify first person testimonies of real children on the front line in Gaza, many of which are woven into A Grain of Sand. Profits from the sale of this book are donated to organisations helping the children of Gaza. Or follow people like @RenadFromGaza on Instagram, who inspired the play’s main character.
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Know...
Their Names. The United Nations states that over 17,000 children have been killed in Gaza over the last 21 months. The scale of these numbers can hide the true human cost of the war. Al Jazeera’s ‘Know Their Names' page provides a moving archive of those killed, shown at the end of A Grain of Sand, reminding us that behind each number was a human being.
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