RIYADH: One Monday evening in Riyadh, musicians, writers, actors and directors gathered in the city’s creative district, JAX, to deliver a one-of-a-kind monologue sequence that drew audiences in with its humor, wit and sincerity.
“Unspoken,” a series produced collaboratively by Writers in Riyadh, Aurora Theater and The Warehouse, saw nine monologues performed on stage, offering an intimate and unfiltered look at the quiet tensions that shape modern life.
“It was truly inspiring to attend the talent show — the energy and creativity on stage were incredible. What stood out most to me was the passion and authenticity each performer brought to their act. It is exciting to see such a groundbreaking event in Saudi Arabia, celebrating self-expression and artistry in such a bold way,” audience member Khalid Al-Tattan told Arab News during the first of the two-night show.
In “Unspoken: Episode 1 — Permission Not Granted,” monologues written by Nicole Garbellini, David Ogilvie and Shruti Parasuraman tackled subjects including the woes and wins of motherhood, the grief of losing one’s body to time, the struggles of finding real love in the modern age, and all the feelings left unsaid.
Aurora Theater’s Garbellini told Arab News: “You can come from a different culture, a more conservative culture, sure, but the struggles are similar because we are humans.”
