Hannah Khalil

Hannah Khalil
FRSL
In an online discussion in 2020
Born
Hannah Mary Khalil

1977 (age 48–49)
Alma materSt Mary's University, Twickenham
SpouseChris White
Websitehannahkhalil.com

Hannah Mary Khalil FRSL (born 1977) is a playwright of Irish-Palestinian heritage. Her plays include Plan D (2010), Scenes from *68 Years (2016), Hakawatis: Women of the Arabian Nights (2022) and My Persian Kitchen (2025).

Early life

Khalil was born to an Irish mother and a Palestinian father from Yasuf and grew up in Dubai and Jordan.[1] She would also spend summers in Ireland. At age 10, Khalil was sent to boarding school in England. Upon her parents' divorce when she was a teenager, her mother moved to Pimlico, London.[2][3]

Khalil graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English and Drama from St Mary's University, Twickenham.[4]

Career

Khalil self-produced the play Plan D, which premiered at the Tristan Bates Theatre in 2010. The play portrays a Palestinian family's experience during the Nakba.[5] Plan D was shortlisted for the Meyer-Whitworth Award.[6] Her other early work included Ring, Leaving Home, The Unofficial Guide and Bitterenders.[7]

In 2016, Khalil premiered Scenes from 68* Years at the Arcola Theatre, marking 68 years since the Nakba. Scenes from 68* Years was shortlisted for the James Tait Black Memorial Prize.[8] This project evolved into Scenes from 71* Years in 2019 and Trouf: 75 Years in 2023.[9][10]

This was followed by The Scar Test, containing verbatim accounts of Yarl's Wood detention centre, in 2017 at the Soho Theatre[11][12] and A Museum in Baghdad, about Gertrude Bell, produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2019.[13] She also contributed Metaverse to the National Theatre of Scotland science fiction collection Interference.[14]

In 2021 as a visiting writer-in-residence, Khalil was appointed Charles A Heimbold Jr Chair of Irish Studies at Villanova University.[15] Maxine Peake directed a charity performance of Khalil's Bitterenders at the Arcola Theatre.[16][17]

Khalil was the 2022 Writer-in-Residence at the Globe Theatre. For the Globe, she adapted Hans Christian Andersen's The Fir Tree for stage, which received critical acclaim,[18][19] as well as Shakespeare and Fletcher's Henry VIII, titled The Life of King Henry VIII: All is True.[20] She ended the year with Hakawatis: Women of the Arabian Nights at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse. Also in 2022, Khalil was inducted as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.[21]

Next came Khalil's play My English Persian Kitchen, based on the true story of Iranian-born food writer and nutritionist Atoosa Sepehr and starring Isabella Nefar.[22] The play premiered at the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe Festival[23][24] and had a London run before embarking on a UK tour.[25] Khalil also adapted Treasure Island, staged at the Orange Tree Theatre.[26]

Personal life

Khalil is married to theatre director Chris White.[4]

Select plays

  • Plan D
  • Bitterenders
  • Scenes from 68* Years
    • Scenes from 71* Years
    • Trouf: 75 Years
    • Scenes from 77* Years
  • The Scar Test
  • Interference – Metaverse
  • A Museum in Baghdad
  • The Censor or How to Put on a Political Play without getting fined or arrested
  • The Fir Tree
  • The Life of King Henry VIII: All is True
  • Hakawatis: Women of the Arabian Nights
  • My English Persian Kitchen
  • Treasure Island

References

  1. ^ Hemming, Sarah (3 December 2022). "Playwright Hannah Khalil: 'I want to write roles for the really brilliant Arab women I know'". Financial Times. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  2. ^ Handal, Nathalie (2015). "The City and the Writer: In London with Hannah Khalil". Columbia University Center for Palestine Studies. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  3. ^ Saleh, Zeina; Al-Dujaili, Dalia (4 January 2023). "Hannah Khalil's demonstration of the uniquely feminine power of oral storytelling". Azeema. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  4. ^ a b Tripney, Natasha (18 May 2022). "Playwright Hannah Khalil: 'I don't think Henry is the central character of Henry VIII'". The Stage. Retrieved 15 August 2025.(subscription required)
  5. ^ El Bagoury, Mahmoud (17 April 2023). "Plan Dalet, the Palestine Nakba and Theatre: Decoding the Diacritics of the 1948 Nakba in Hannah Khalil's Plan D". Journal of Holy Land and Palestine Studies. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  6. ^ Plan D by Hannah Khalil (3 August 2011). "Some lovely news - Plan D has been shortlisted for the Meyer Whitworth new play award". Retrieved 15 August 2025 – via Facebook.
  7. ^ "Hannah Khalil: Palestinian-Irish Playwright on 'Scenes from 68 Years'". Nahla Ink. 6 April 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  8. ^ "Hannah Khalil's 'Scenes from 68* Years' Shortlisted for James Tait Black Prize for Drama". Arab Lit. 12 June 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  9. ^ "Review: "Scenes from 71* Years" by Hannah Khalil". The Theatre Times. 26 May 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  10. ^ "Playwright Hannah Khalil carries on her Palestinian family's story through theatre". The National. 2 July 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  11. ^ Bromwich, Kathryn (25 June 2017). "Hannah Khalil: 'With theatre you can get into people's hearts'". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  12. ^ Greenstreet, Hannah (10 July 2017). "Review: The Scar Test at the Soho Theatre". Exeunt. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  13. ^ Davies, Michael (23 October 2019). "Review: A Museum in Baghdad (Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon)". Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  14. ^ Hawthorne, Katie (11 March 2019). "Future Facing: National Theatre of Scotland's Interference". The Skinny. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  15. ^ "Playwright and Writer Hannah Khalil named 2021 Charles A. Heimbold Jr. Chair of Irish Studies at Villanova University". Villanova University. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  16. ^ Wild, Stephi (23 June 2021). "Maxine Peake Will Direct a Charity Performance Of BITTERENDERS at the Arcola Theatre in July". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  17. ^ Moses, Caro (2 July 2021). "Hannah Khalil: Bitterenders". This Week Culture. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  18. ^ Davis, Clive (7 June 2023). "The Fir Tree review — a witty reboot of Hans Christian Andersen". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  19. ^ Akbar, Arifa (22 December 2022). "The Fir Tree review – a must-see festive family fairy tale". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  20. ^ Loxton, Howard (October 2022). "Theatre review: Henry VIII from Shakespeare's Globe". British Theatre Guide. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  21. ^ "Fellows: Hannah Khalil". Royal Society of Literature. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  22. ^ Hemming, Sarah (25 July 2024). "My English Persian Kitchen brings Iranian cuisine to theatre's onstage cooking trend". Financial Times. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  23. ^ Tripney, Natasha (3 August 2024). "My English-Persian Kitchen by Hannah Khalil review at Traverse Theatre". The Stage. Retrieved 15 August 2025.(subscription required)
  24. ^ Hawthorn, Katie (31 July 2024). "Interviews: Hannah Khalil and Sierra Sevilla". Fest. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  25. ^ Wild, Stephi (28 May 2025). "MY ENGLISH PERSIAN KITCHEN Will Embark on UK Tour". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  26. ^ Akbar, Arifa (22 December 2024). "Treasure Island review – dashing female pirates strike gold on high seas". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
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