Teersi Duniya Theatre has never shied away from showcasing politically relevant plays—or fostering cross-cultural and sometimes difficult dialogue. So it’s no surprise that they postponed their scheduled season to present the semi-autobiographical Two Birds One Stone: a thought-provoking, often charged conversation created by Muslim Palestinian Rimah Jabr and Jewish Canadian Natasha Greenblatt.
Originally written and staged in 2016, Two Birds One Stone centres around a friendship between two women from different backgrounds (played by Dalia Charafeddine and Natasha Fagant) who share an overlapping history.
One, living in Canada, is detached from her roots until she decides to visit Israel with Birthright. The other lives in Palestine and wants nothing more than to study theatre in Belgium. Each ends up on a search for their ancestral seaside home in Netanya—and their own place in the world—while exploring questions of identity, grief, and friendship against a backdrop of occupation.
Using sparse props, sheer curtains, and clever lighting, the stage is set for a struggle with some of the biggest questions of our time. Notably, the writers have updated the piece to reflect events of the past year, and the actresses come in and out of character to question the play itself—eventually dropping the final two scenes to present an ending that struggles with truth instead of wrapping up in a neat theatrical bow.
The performances here are exceptionally honest and heartfelt, and will leave no audience member unmoved.
Both playwrights caution that they are not speaking for “two sides” but for themselves and their lived experiences. Each performance is followed by a talkback where audience members can ask questions and engage with the production team, including the director, playwright, and Teersi Duniya artistic director Rahul Varma.
Two Birds One Stone is playing at Teesri’s Rangshala Studio from October 25 to November 5. Tickets for showings, including two Saturday matinee performances, can be purchased here.
