Bone by Bone

by Sharifa Yazmeen

Visions of another couple who lived within an abandoned attic’s walls intertwine with Chris and Muna’s secrets, until Fayrouz and Yasir find old life reflected in the attic’s new inhabitants. Histories collide, spirits take hold, and the attic forms its own space in time somewhere between what was and what is in this examination of sex, shame, and the cost of being okay.

Visions of another couple who lived within an abandoned attic’s walls intertwine with Chris and Muna’s secrets, until Fayrouz and Yasir find old life reflected in the attic’s new inhabitants. Histories collide, spirits take hold, and the attic forms its own space in time somewhere between what was and what is in this examination of sex, shame, and the cost of being okay.

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Bone by Bone

Recommended by

  • Jillian Blevins: Bone by Bone by Sharifa Yazmeen
    “

    Both a ghost story & a love story (well, two), BONE BY BONE is unsparingly vulnerable & terrifyingly intimate. Evocative at times of both Gruesome Playground Injuries & Slave Play, Sharifa Yazmeen’s episodic story unfolds with erotic intensity & mounting dread as it explores the connection between desire & violence, shame & ecstasy, past & present. Despite the trauma at its center, BBB believes in healing, & that wounded people are worthy of love. A deeply theatrical, genre-defying achievement.

    Both a ghost story & a love story (well, two), BONE BY BONE is unsparingly vulnerable & terrifyingly intimate. Evocative at times of both Gruesome Playground Injuries & Slave Play, Sharifa Yazmeen’s episodic story unfolds with erotic intensity & mounting dread as it explores the connection between desire & violence, shame & ecstasy, past & present. Despite the trauma at its center, BBB believes in healing, & that wounded people are worthy of love. A deeply theatrical, genre-defying achievement.

    ”
  • Shaun Leisher: Bone by Bone by Sharifa Yazmeen
    “

    This play is a gift to trans Arab women. Loved how time and space is played with here and how everything bleeds into each other by the end. What an ending. Would love to see this play produced. This is one that needs to be produced all over. At a time where trans lives are in danger, this is a play that needs to be seen. Wonderfully written characters that people will be talking about long after this play ends.

    This play is a gift to trans Arab women. Loved how time and space is played with here and how everything bleeds into each other by the end. What an ending. Would love to see this play produced. This is one that needs to be produced all over. At a time where trans lives are in danger, this is a play that needs to be seen. Wonderfully written characters that people will be talking about long after this play ends.

    ”
  • Marie-Claire Erdynast: Bone by Bone by Sharifa Yazmeen
    “

    Bone by Bone is innovative and evocative. Yasmin's craft shines through in stage directions that break the mold of theatre conventions by deftly guiding through the characters' inner life. This play boldly captures the complex, violent, and intimate sexual relationships of arab transgender women in a world that secrets away their love.

    Bone by Bone is innovative and evocative. Yasmin's craft shines through in stage directions that break the mold of theatre conventions by deftly guiding through the characters' inner life. This play boldly captures the complex, violent, and intimate sexual relationships of arab transgender women in a world that secrets away their love.

    ”

Character Information

FAYROUZ - She/Her. Trans. Arab. Fire sign. Bold purple.
YASIR - He/Him. Cis. Arab. Earth sign. Muted orange.
MUNA - She/Her. Trans. Arab. Water sign. Bright yellow.
CHRIS - He/Him. Cis. White. Air sign. Dingy white.
  • Fayrouz
    FAYROUZ is a deity in her own right. She has to be, to have lived through the oppression she’s faced. She is as bold as the colors she wears. As fierce as any predator you can encounter. And as pure as the heart she holds. But there is a cost to this strength, to the need to be this strong, and she holds a deep pain that grows with every ounce of neglect she faces. She is not a victim, - she refuses to be - but her wounds are at a point that can no longer be ignored. Even in memories, she seeks solace and freedom, and it is significant that she finds it.
    30s - 40s
    Arab,
    North African,
    Middle Eastern,
    South Asian
    Trans woman
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Muna
    MUNA talks too much, too quickly, jumping from one thought to the next. She is incredibly eccentric, quick-witted, and full of quirks, which can annoy those around her. And to top this off, she is constantly inserting herself in other people's issues. But in order to understand her, you have to understand she leads with her heart in every choice. She cares deeply for others, genuinely, sincerely, and every move she makes is filled with good intention. She feels quite powerless in life and resigns herself to the little space others give her. But deep inside her is a rage waiting to be released.
    20s-30s
    Arab,
    North African,
    Middle Eastern
    Trans woman
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Yasir
    YASIR is securely grounded and uses his aptitude for logic to guide every decision he makes. He is successful, due equally to hard work and nepotism. Despite his successful assimilation into his adopted family and the society that surrounds him, he feels like an outsider, and is seeking understanding and companionship. He is sincerely kind, but that will not stop him from making difficult decisions. Nor will the deep love he holds for those he cares about. He will always make the choice that is the most sound, no matter how much it hurts him to do so.
    30s-40s
    Arab,
    North,
    Middle Eastern
    Cis Man
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Chris
    Chris is both an antagonist and a casualty. He holds immense privilege but has also suffered quite severely. It’s easy to see him as just another aggressive man to not mess around with, and maybe that’s true. But there is much more to him than what his actions might show. His heart is bursting at the seams and he’s doing his absolute best to keep it contained. It’s important to not let him off the hook, while also seeking to understand how he is also victimized. In order to find his anger, you must find his heart.
    20s-30s
    White
    Cis Man
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male