Khalid Abdalla, an Egyptian British actor and activist known for his role in "The Crown," arrived in Australia to present his one-man play, "Nowhere." His visit coincided with local discussions regarding a terrorist attack in Bondi and a censorship controversy at Adelaide Writers' Week (AWW).
The Bondi attack occurred in December. The AWW controversy involved the dis-invitation of Palestinian Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah, leading to numerous participant withdrawals, board resignations, and the cancellation of the 2026 event. A new board subsequently apologized to Abdel-Fattah and retracted the initial statement that cited cultural sensitivity post-Bondi as the reason for the dis-invitation.
Abdalla described the Bondi attack as "horrific" and noted it had "opened an intergenerational wound" for Jewish people. He stated the importance of discussing Israel and Palestine, opposing what he termed "anti-Palestinian racist attacks."
His play, "Nowhere," is a 90-minute performance that integrates personal narratives, including the death of his friend Aalam Wassef and his experiences during the Arab Spring in Egypt, with song, dance, and social history. Abdalla aims for the play to serve as "a gesture of healing" amidst global events, including what he described as an "unfolding genocide in Palestine."
Abdalla's motivation for writing stemmed from the 2014 Egyptian Crisis, which saw the election of General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. His family has a history of political imprisonment in Egypt. The play's narrative evolved to incorporate his grief over Wassef's death in 2023. He has linked his artistic endeavors with activism, including organizing a charity concert for Palestine.
During his performances in Sydney, Abdalla has met individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those affected by the Bondi attack, pro-Palestine activists, and First Nations peoples. The play encourages audience participation and incorporates humor to balance the intensity of topics such as colonization, the death toll in Gaza, and personal arrests.
"Nowhere" is being performed at the Roslyn Packer Theatre as part of the Sydney Festival until January 17.