Khayaal Theatre: Tales of Beauty, Knowledge and Love from Uzbekistan, India, Konya & Palestine

Join multi award-winning theatre Company, Khayaal Theatre for an evening of enchanting Tales of Wisdom, Wonder and Humour. Expect themes of Knowledge, Beauty and Love from cultures in Uzbekistan, Konya, Palestine and India.

Performed by Eleanor Martin, this storytelling theatre experience for family audiences (ages 7+) captures imaginations and nourishes hearts. A post-performance Q&A conversation with Khayaal Theatre directors will follow.

Worth of a Pearl
A king devises a test of loyalty and devotion for select high-ranking officials of his royal court involving a lustrous pearl. A tale by Mawlana Jalaluddin Rumi.

Quest for Knowledge
On applying to become a student of a sage, a youth finds himself summarily charged with a seemingly simple task. The task becomes a toilsome trial of initiation that profoundly transforms his perception of what it means to learn and know. A tale from Khwaja As-Samasi of Uzbekistan.

The Artists
A queen decrees that two artists will wage beauty to determine whose work of art will win the hearts of her people. A contest ensues that re-defines the very nature of art. A tale by Mawlana Jalaluddin Rumi.

A Promise Fulfilled

Cast out for yielding to compassion, Hassan bereft and bedraggled is befriended by another homeless boy whose resolve and knowledge of signs and metaphors opens doors to fortune and fulfilment. A folktale from Palestine.

Eleanor Martin

Eleanor Martin is a professional actress and stage director with mainstream TV and film credits and has performed as a storyteller for the past 20 years.

She employs a dramatic and physical multi-character role-playing performance style that has been described by audiences as mesmerising and imaginatively and spiritually nourishing and inspiring.

She specialises in telling stories from Muslim heritage with a contemporary twist. Her recent engagements include Birmingham Rep, Bank of England, LSE, Cheltenham Literature Festival and Edinburgh Festival. She is a founding Associate Director at Khayaal Theatre Company.

Beacon Valley 

Beacon Valley is a unique, family-run venue set at the heart of Birmingham's Lickey Hills, exploring wellbeing and culture immersed in nature, featuring a water spring, river source and 20th Century well.