MAKING THEATRE
A GRAIN OF SAND حبّة رمل
Renad, a young 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.
“Unflinching authenticity […] giving Palestinians a powerful platform to speak their truths through art”
“Agha’s exceptional talent shines as she effortlessly transitions between moments of hope and heartbreak.”
- Strand Magazine
MEET THE TEAM
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Elias Matar
Playwright and DirectorSarah Agha
PerformerJoe Murphy and Joe Robertson
DramaturgyNatalie Pryce
Set and Costume DesignerNick Powell
Composer and Sound DesignerDan Light
Video DesignerXenia Bayer
Lighting DesignerJoni-Ann Falconer
Stage ManagerAmir Hussain Ibrahimi
Assistant Stage ManagerAalia Kassab, Atta Khaled, Menna Hijazi, Shaker Abuijlan, Saleem Lubbad
Gaza Voices Advisory Group -
Alexandra Kalisperas
Script EditorJamal Masarwa
Digital Artist
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 2025, 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.
“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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