Written and produced by Hengameh E. Rice/AuTash Productions
Directed by Carmen Aguirre
Qur’an consultant – Salima Versi
Public Reading (approx. 80 minutes, no intermission)
Saturday, September 12th , 7:30 p.m.
Workshop West Playwrights Theatre, 8529 Gateway Boulevard, Edmonton, Alberta
Tickets: $12 on Showpass –
https://www.showpass.com/the-night-travelling-star/
About the Play: In this play, four Muslim women embark on an epic journey into the desert following the night star and leaving the comfort and safety of their community. Fatimeh, an orphan, commits an act of rebellion and defiance and is excommunicated from the community into the desert. Maryam, the daughter of the deceased Imam, follows Fatimeh after refusing to abide by the community’s traditions. Sabira, Maryam’s mother, has no choice but to join Aisha, the community’s only doctor, to find the girls and bring them back. Meanwhile, the community is reeling over the loss of the women and Nusrat, the Muezzin, is forced to find the women and bring them back. Do the women return? Or do they decide to continue their journey?
Cast and Crew
Hengameh E. Rice/AuTash Productions (Playwright/Producer) We are a theatre duo with Hengameh born in Shiraz, Iran and Rice, in Edmonton, Alberta. Our debut play, Anahita’s Republic, was nominated for two Dora Mavor Moore awards including Outstanding New Play in Toronto for a Bustle & Beast production at Factory Theatre (2023) and was self-produced in Edmonton and nominated for three Sterling awards including Outstanding Independent Production at the Backstage Theatre (2023).
Carmen Aguirre (Director) is a Chilean-Canadian author, actor, and playwright, and a Core Artist at Vancouver’s Electric Company Theatre .Carmen has written and co-written over twenty-five plays, including Chile Con Carne, The Refugee Hotel, The Trigger, Blue Box, Broken Tailbone, Anywhere But Here, and adaptations for the stage of Eduardo Galeano’s, Jorge Amado’s, and Julio Cortazar’s work.
Aisha Ali (Assistant/Mentee Director)is a writer and visual artist based in Edmonton. Through acrylic painting, ink drawings, poetry, and film, she explores identity formation, the human need for belonging, and the lasting impact of childhood trauma. Her multidisciplinary practice examines how personal and collective experiences shape selfhood, memory, resilience, and human connection. She published her debut poetry and prose chapbook in 2019 titled, ‘Spilt Milk.’
Jasmine Hopfe (she/they) (Fatimeh) is a queer and mixed Egyptian/European performer, playwright, dramaturg, and arts administrator currently based in amiswaciwâskahikan. Recent acting credits include: Signs (Concrete Theatre), Tough Guy (Persistent Myth Productions), Headhole (Pack of Magpies), TELEVANGELISTS (Dog Bite Theatre Collective), After the Trojan Women (Alma Theatre), and Brick Shithouse (fenceless theatre).
Zahra Jiwa (Aisha) is thrilled to be sharing this important story that resonates so personally. Stage: Anne of Green Gables, Once On This Island (Storybook Theatre), Drinking Habits, It’s a Wonderful Life (Morpheus Theatre), Daddy’s Girl, Dead & Breakfast (Symmons Valley). Film: Jamilla, In Parallel, Peri Leto. Vancouver Film School 2025 @zahrajiwa
Rebecca John (Sabira) is a multidisciplinary artist living and working in amiskwaciy-wâskahikan. As a Mad, queer, non/binary, mixed-race Desi, they are grateful to have learned from modalities such as collective creation, community-engaged processes, inclusive dance, and anti-racist work. Trained in theatre performance and design, they currently create at the intersections of dance, theatre, and performance art.
Azria Khan (Maryam) is a Canadian-Pakistani actor and director from Edmonton. She is known to appear both on stage and the screen. Azria is especially a huge advocate for representing BIPOC voices in the industry. She is thrilled to play Maryam for AuTash Productions’ public reading of The Night Travelling Star.
Brijesh Nagarathinam (he/him) (Nusrat/Bilal) is a recent BA Honors in Drama graduate from University of Alberta. He is an actor/director, and has been part of productions in various other executive and production roles. He is so excited to workshop this project and share these rich stories across our communities!
Mustafa Rafiq (Sound Design)is a self-taught guitarist and saxophonist. Using these instruments with voice, field recordings and percussion he researches relationships among nature, ritual, sound and time.
Please email all submissions and/or questions to AuTashProductions@gmail.com
