When Shakespeare Travelled with Me
Islam Issa reflects on his own encounters with Shakespearean understanding in the Arab world, from peasant knowledge to pop, and he looks back at a poets' debate in 1916 Egypt.
April 1916. By the Nile, the foremost poets of the Middle East are arguing about Shakespeare. In 2004, Egyptian singer Essam Karika released his urban song Oh Romeo.
Reflecting on his travels and encounters around the Arab world, New Generation Thinker Islam Issa, from Birmingham City University, discusses how canonical English writers (Shakespeare and Milton) creep into the popular culture of the region today. Recorded with an audience at Sage Gateshead as part of 大象传媒 Radio 3's Free Thinking Festival in 2018.
Islam's Issa's book, Milton in the Arab-Muslim World, won the Milton Society of America's 'Outstanding First Book' award. His exhibition Stories of Sacrifice won the Muslim News Awards 'Excellence in Community Relations' prize.
New Generation Thinkers is a scheme run by 大象传媒 Radio 3 and the Arts and Humanities Research Council to select ten academics each year who can turn their research into radio. There are now 100 early career academics who have passed through the scheme.
Producer: Fiona McLean.
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