The Team

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Aisha Mohammed grew up in South East London, in the community where the play is set. She is a poet, performer and multi-disciplinary fine artist, working around and with multiple mediums, painting, drawing, sculptor, photography, print, creative writing and digital art. The Crows Plucked Your Sinews will be her theatrical debut.

Aisha is currently studying a BA FINE ART at University of the Arts London. She is a resident artist at Numbi Arts – a collaborative cross-cultural exchange for artists that draws from the experience of Somali communities around the world.

Hassan Mahamdallie trained in theatre and spent many years working as a theatre actor, deviser and director, mainly in the north west of England. He then made his name as an investigative journalist, columnist, writer and lecturer particularly in the area of black and Asian struggles against injustice and civil rights. He has contributed to many books and is the author of a biography of radical artist William Morris – ‘Crossing the River of Fire’ and editor of the collection of essays ‘Defending Multiculturalism’. He also blogs for the dreamdeferred site on his teenage years as a south London punk rocker. He is presently Director of the Muslim Institute, a free-thinking Muslim organisation based in London and is a deputy editor of the institute’s new quarterly publication ‘Critical Muslim’.

Abdelkader Saadoun is an Algerian raï singer-songw saadoun pic riter and multi-instrumentalist. He comes from Khemis Miliana in Algeria, a few miles away from Wahran, the birth place of raï . He started to play raï music in his home country. An accomplished singer and musician, he now based in Greenwich, south east London, where he teaches young musicians. He is a charismatic performer and has performed at major festivals within the UK, including the Womad main stage, as well and internationally. http://www.saadoun.com/

Rachel Gadsden is a unique visual and performance artist working across the mainstream and disability art sectors, presenting cross-cultural visual dialogues that consider the most profound notions of what it is to be human. She was awarded the National Diversity Award 2013: Positive Role Model for Disability, shortlisted for the European Diversity Awards 2014 – Hero of the Year and was awarded BreakThrough UK Award 2014 – Influencing disabled people’s participation in society. www.rachelgadsden.com

Adam Radolinski Polish born, multi-disciplinary visual artist, theatre/film director, Adam grew up in an artistic family with his father, Stanislaw, a sculptor, having great impact on Adam’s work. In 2012, he graduated in Photography (Polish National Cultural Centre). He has exhibited in Poland, Ireland, Italy, Russia and Dubai. In 2009, like a Polish Radio and Newspaper correspondent, he started his journey through the Middle East, visiting Iran, Iraq, turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Israel and Jordan. He lives and works in Dubai.

Mohammed Ali is an award winning street-artist, curator and creative producer – art meets faith, identity and social change – inspiring and informing a new generation worldwide to express their identity and ideals. Ali’s ethos of “taking art to the people” combines street art with live performances, installations, video projections and moving soundscapes. His immersive experiences for audiences from street canvases in New York, Amsterdam, London and Melbourne to intimate performances in the Vatican, brings together communities divided by culture, faith and ethnicity. His exploration of challenging social issues through Art, provide transformative and radical tools to counteract challenges facing society. Ali’s Soul City Arts, brings together artists, activists and communities worldwide, who share a commitment to transform society. www.aerosolarabic.com

Ayaan Aden was born and raised in Mogadishu, Somalia, and was educated in Somalia, Kenya and the UK. Ayaan was a founder member of Bexley Somali Community Association in south east London, and has been active in the community for many years. She is presently training to be a language teacher.

Ayaan is a skilled linguist, interpreter and translator and is steeped in Somali history, language, tradition, social structure, culture and the arts. She introduced ‘Crows’ writer Hassan Mahamdallie to the historical figure of Mohammed ‘Abdille Hassan and his epic poetry, including Koofil. She has advised on The Crows Plucked Your Sinews since its inception.

Jamil Dhillon has a BA in Directing, Drama Centre, London, has worked at Graeae Theatre and Theatre Centre and previously starred in the BBC sitcom All About Me with Jasper Carrot and Meera Syal. Jamil has been involved in music video production, assisting on EMI’s Last of English Roses music video (Pete Doherty (The Libertines). He studied ‘Electronic Music Production’ at SAE Institute, London and reviews music for online arts publication ‘Zero Magazine.’

Grace Craven studied Technical and Production Management at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Credits include: The Ugly One, Park Theatre; Brixton Rock, The Big House; Wish List, Royal Court; LUV, Park Theatre; Open Court, Royal Court; Scenes From 68* Years, Arcola and The Crocodile, Manchester International Festival. Other theatre credits Include: The Crows Plucked Your Sinews, UK & International Tour; Power Plant, Auckland Arts Festival; No’s Knife, The Old Vic; Big Girls Blouse, Soho Theatre and We’re Here Because We’re Here, National Theatre.

London, United Kingdom – Tuesday 19 November 2013 – Final rehearsal of ‘The Crows Plucked Your Sinews’ at the Bush Theatre. Performed by Yusra Warsama. With the legendary Hudaidi on Oud.

London, United Kingdom - Tuesday 19 November 2013, Final rehearsal of 'The Crows Plucked Your Sinews' at the Bush Theatre.London, United Kingdom - Tuesday 19 November 2013, Final rehearsal of 'The Crows Plucked Your Sinews' at the Bush Theatre.