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.
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.
Post-show events
Following the shows on Thursday 22 & 29 January at 7.30pm and Saturday 24 & 31 at 3pm, there will be a 30 minute Q&A with performer Sarah Agha and writer/director Elias Matar.
Each Child a Light كل طفل نور
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Running time
1 hour (no latecomers, no readmittance) -
Age guidance
14+ -
Content warnings
A Grain of Sand is "beguiling"– The Guardian
"A Grain of Sand asks you not just to watch, but to listen, to feel, and to sit with stories that are too often reduced to headlines and numbers"– Theatre Audience Podcast
"Like a small child crying out from a region reduced to rubble, A Grain of Sand deserves to be seen"– The Stage
"A delicate piece of work that beautifully bridges the whimsically intangible and the horrifically real"– WhatsOnStage
"Sarah Agha is a performer with a mesmerising gift for storytelling"– Everything Theatre
"I'd challenge anyone to sit through this and not be moved"– Time Out
Production photos from Liverpool Arab Arts Festival, July 2025
The Company
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Sarah Agha
Renad
Sarah Agha
Renad
Sarah Agha is an actress, presenter, film curator and writer. She co-hosted the award winning documentary series The Holy Land And Us on BBC Two and she plays series regular Betsy Temple in The Hardacres on Channel 5. Other screen credits include Into The Badlands and BFI / Film 4 feature Layla. Theatre credits include roles on stage with the Royal Shakespeare Company, The Polka Theatre, The Arcola and Shakespeare’s Globe.
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Elias Matar
Writer and Director
Elias Matar
Writer and Director
Elias Matar is a Palestinian storyteller, director, performer, drama therapist and playwright, and Good Chance’s Deputy Artistic Director. Drawing on his heritage, he adapts Middle Eastern myths into contemporary tales exploring displacement and belonging. Founder of Ibillin Theatre and El Bayet Centre, his plays – including Olive Jar and A Grain of Sand – celebrate resilience, creativity, and community, with performances showcased across the UK and internationally.
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Sarah Agha
Performer and Co-Deviser
Sarah Agha
Performer and Co-Deviser
Sarah Agha is an actress, presenter, film curator and writer. She co-hosted the award winning documentary series The Holy Land And Us on BBC Two and she plays series regular Betsy Temple in The Hardacres on Channel 5. Other screen credits include Into The Badlands and BFI / Film 4 feature Layla. Theatre credits include roles on stage with the Royal Shakespeare Company, The Polka Theatre, The Arcola and Shakespeare’s Globe.
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Good Chance
Producer
Good Chance
Producer
Good Chance makes ground-breaking, heart-thumping “theatre that shakes hands with the world” (Sunday Times). Founded in 2015 by playwrights Joe Murphy and Joe Robertson in the Calais “Jungle” refugee camp, the company has since sparked global connections and conversations on migration, polarisation and the climate crisis. Through critically-acclaimed productions (The Jungle, Kyoto, A Grain of Sand), major international public artworks (The Walk with Little Amal, Fly With Me, From Here On), and Artist Development initiatives (Stage Door) they have delivered 900+ events, reached 1.2m in-person, 550m more digitally, and collaborated with 2000+ artists worldwide.
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Joe Murphy and Joe Robertson
Dramaturgy
Joe Murphy and Joe Robertson
Dramaturgy
Joe and Joe are from the north of England. In 2015, they founded Good Chance in the Calais ‘Jungle’ refugee camp. Their first full-length play The Jungle (2017-23), based on their experiences there, opened at the Young Vic, before transferring to the West End, St Ann’s Warehouse, San Francisco and Washington D.C.. Inspired by a character from The Jungle, they co-created The Walk with Little Amal (2021), a global festival of welcome. Kyoto (2024-present), their second full-length play, premiered at the RSC before transferring to the West End and New York’s Lincoln Center Theater.
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Natalie Pryce
Set and Costume Designer
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Nick Powell
Composer and Sound Designer
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Dan Light
Video Designer
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Jonathan Chan
Lighting Designer
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Kate Jones
Production Manager
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Joni-Ann Falconer
Stage Manager
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Aalia Kassab, Atta Khaled, Menna Hijazi, Shaker Abuijlan, Saleem Lubbad
Gaza Voices Advisory Group
This production is supported by
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Good Chance
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Liverpool Arab Arts Festival
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London Palestine Film Festival
