A Grain of Sand @ Citizens Theatre, Glasgow
A lyrical solo performance about a child surviving Gaza’s devastation, A Grain of Sand blends folklore and testimony to insist on bearing conscious witness to genocide
We are now at a time when the genocide in Gaza is being widely overlooked in the media and on our screens, particularly since the official "ceasefire" began in October 2025. But regular Israeli bombing, starvation and displacement continue today in what is the most densely populated area on earth.
In this context, A Grain of Sand serves as an important reminder. This one-hour solo show by Elias Matar, performed by Sarah Agha, portrays 11-year-old Renad, who has lost her family in Gaza city amid the bombing. The character is inspired by Renad Attallah, a Gazan girl who captured millions sharing cooking videos amidst genocide on social media. In the play, she searches for her family whilst trying to survive as the reign of terror escalates.
Agha takes us on an intimate journey of a child’s endurance through unbearable circumstances, using Palestinian folklore and tradition with magical realism. Renad’s capacity for hope, joy and resilience hinges on her belief in Al-Anqaa, the mythical Gazan phoenix that spreads its wings across the land and protects its people. Her belief is challenged as the devastation grows.
The play also uses verbatim testimony of Gazan children, staggered throughout. Many of the words ring as profound and eloquent as any poet. These are later merged with other names in a stunning image, inviting us to feel the sheer scale of loss of so many young lives, without the distancing of statistics.
A Grain of Sand is a beautiful piece that delicately balances light and darkness with integrity. It implores us to remember the unforgivable that has happened and is still unfolding, and to carry our own hope forward.
A Grain of Sand, Citizens Theatre, Glasgow, run in Scotland ended, UK and Ireland tours in March and April 2026