LONDON— Al Amwaj (The Waves) is a brand new play, created by a group of Arab writers, to be broadcast on BBC World Service on Saturday, 21 March at 2001 GMT. It stems from a unique Arab playwriting initiative and is the first BBC play to be commissioned from writers in the Gulf region, all working in collaboration.

The play, exploring story-telling and identity, is told through the experiences of taxi driver Noor Alam. It follows the journeys of his six passengers to an unspecified coastal town in the Gulf. Whether they talk to Noor, or avoid his questions, it becomes clear to him that their lives are inextricably linked. With each wave that breaks, there is another story to tell.

Al Amwaj (The Waves) is the final product of a unique playwriting journey. In July 2008, in conjunction with the British Council, award-winning writer Nick Warburton and Executive Producer of BBC World Drama, Marion Nancarrow, ran a three-day “Writing for Radio” workshop in Doha, Qatar. Thirty writers from Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Qatar were invited to take part. All attendees were then asked to submit ideas, scenes and treatments reflecting the things they cared about, with a view to becoming part of a smaller group who would work together to write a play specifically for BBC World Drama.

Seven writers were subsequently selected and following a second intensive script workshop held over two days in Qatar, led by Nick Warburton, in conjunction with the British Council; the selected writers created Al Amwaj (The Waves).

Marion Nancarrow, executive producer, Radio Drama, BBC World Service said: “This play is unique, both in terms of who has written it and the way in which it has been created. It comes from the heart of the Arab world and it tells stories and creates characters we don’t often have the chance to hear. Radio drama is a wonderful, intimate medium which allows this to happen.”

Hannah Henderson, British Council regional manager creativity, Middle East commented: “The British Council is delighted to support artistic collaboration between writers in the UK and in the Middle East and to work in partnership with the BBC. The Gulf region has wonderful contemporary writers and a rich tradition of storytelling. Al Amwaj touches on issues relevant to the region and brings them to a worldwide radio audience.”

Al Amwaj (The Waves) was written by Abdulla Ahmed Bukamal, Hissa Faraj Al-Marri, Masoud Abdul Hadi and May Touma from Qatar; with Ali Al-Majnooni, Fatima Elias Al Gassim and Tahani Al-Ghureiby from Saudi Arabia.

Sagar Arya plays Noor Alam. He is joined by actors Nadim Sawalha, Sirine Saba, Zolfa Zahedi, Paul Chahidi, William El –Gardi, and Nathalie Armin.

Al Amwaj will be broadcast on Saturday 21st March 2009 at 2001 GMT. For listeners in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Yemen that is 2201 (local time). For listeners in the United Arab Emirates and Oman that is 2301 (local time). Listeners will have a second opportunity to hear the play on Sunday, 22 March at 1101 GMT.

The British Council and the BBC World Service are also running their 11th International Radio Playwriting Competition which takes place biennially and aims to seek out new international talent. The deadline for entries is on Tuesday March 31, 2009.

 For further details, visit: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/indepth/radioplay2008.shtml.