Donal O'Kelly and the Abbey Theatre present

Let it be a tale

28 April 2024

A spoken word performance by Rafeef Ziadah

Music by Phil Monsour

Booking Information

Dates: 28 April 2024
On the Abbey stage

Times: 7:30pm

Tickets:  €20

Duration: 90 minutes

“I wish I could just run barefoot in every refugee camp and hold every child, cover their ears so they wouldn’t have to hear the sound of bombing for the rest of their life the way I do…”

Let it be a tale is a night of poetry by Palestinian poet and spoken word artist Rafeef Ziadah. Rafeef will bring her powerful catalogue of poetry to the stage featuring selections from her latest album Three Generations and earlier works from We Teach Life. With original musical compositions by Phil Monsour, the sequence of interconnected poems serves as a poignant and personal tribute to Palestine, chronicling Al-Nakba, exile, defiance and survival.

The Abbey Theatre was approached by Irish artist and activist Donal O’Kelly with the idea to partner on this important event. Let it be a tale is a dedicated ode to Palestinian youth who still fly kites in the face of F16 bombers, who still remember the names of their villages in Palestine and still hear doves over Gaza. Rafeef Ziadah is dedicating her performance to the memory of the late Palestinian poet and educator Refaat Alareer. Rafeef last performed in the Abbey Theatre in 2016.

Commenting, Co-Directors at the Abbey Theatre, Caitríona McLaughlin and Mark O’Brien said: “We believe art and artists have the power to not only inspire, but to help us make sense of the world around us, shed light on injustice and be a catalyst for action. Artists are our route to understanding. Rafeef speaks for her people, for Gaza – for Palestine. We are partnering in this special event with Irish artist and activist Donal O’Kelly to amplify Rafeef’s words and create a space for the rest of us to listen and learn. We ask those who have the power, to stop the inhumanity unfolding in Gaza and deliver an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.”

All Abbey Theatre proceeds, after artist fees and costs, will be donated to Unicef Ireland – Emergency Appeal for Gaza.