INVASION! (the play)

Invasion! is a tornado of words, images and ideas, all centered around a magical name: Abulkasem. The play assaults our deepest prejudices about identity, race and language. At once hilarious, disturbing and poignant, this deeply subversive play deconstructs a threatening identity – the Arabic male – and forces us to confront our own cultural identity.

Invasion! is Khemiri’s debut as a playwright. It was written for The Stockholm City Theatre, received splendid reviews and played two seasons of sold out performances. This drama debut opened the doors for Khemiri to participate at Royal Court’s International Residency in London 2006.

Invasion! directed by Farnaz Arbabi, is a production that dupes the spectator as it toys both with the illusion of theatre and all our preconceptions about theatre. It lends blood and body to current (and eternal) questions concerning where one belongs, language and identity. Jonas Hassen Khemiri’s whirlwind of thoughts and words twists so rapidly and intelligently that the play’s evolution from nonsense and hilarity towards the deadly serious draws the audience irresistibly in.

/The Jury for the 2007 Swedish Theatre Biennial

Invasion! has been translated and sold to theatres in Norway (Teatret Vårt), France (Michel Didym), Germany (Münchner Kammerspiele, Prinz Regent Theater, Bochum, Gostner Hoftheater, Nürnberg, Nationaltheater Mannheim, Hebbel Theatre Berlin), Austria (Schauspielhaus) and the UK (Company of Angels/Soho Theatre). In March 2008 it opened at the Münchner Kammarspiele and received splendid reviews. The play was printed in the May -08 issue of Theater Heute.