Arabian Afternoons

A trilogy of contemporary plays inspired by tales from The Arabian NightsThe Casper Logue Affair by Sebastian Baczkiewicz: An absurd black comedy thriller, set in Baghdad. Junior diplomat Bob Goldacre is in trouble: the American businessman he was looking after has vanished from a Baghdad street. As the suspects pile up, Goldacre is going to have his work cut out if he wants to save his career and make sure that justice is done.The Porter and the Three Ladies by Rachel Joyce: It is time for Shahrazad to tell another tale to save her life. In this story within a story, we find out that if Joe doesn''t find the exclusive to satisfy his ruthless editor, he will lose his job. He finds three beautiful women in Damascus but what is the truth behind their secret life?A Dish of Pomegranates by Peter Jukes: Shared roots and scattered families in the melting pot of modern Jerusalem. Tired after a stressful trip, Ajib is stopped by security officers as he tries to fly out of Ben Gurion airport on his way home to the U.S. They don''t think his story adds up. Can he make them believe him? And does he actually know the whole story himself?The Casper Logue TrilogyWritten by Sebastian BaczkiewiczDirected and produced by Abigail le FlemingCast Shahrazad: Sirine SabaShahrayar: Kevork MalikyanAseera: Betsabeh EmranRahim: Sargon YeldaGoldacre: Trevor WhiteHammond: Bruce AlexanderCasper: Nathan OsgoodKindermann: Rufus WrightCarlton: John BigginsCharlene: Alison PettitThe Porter and the Three LadiesWritten by Rachel JoyceDirected by Tracey NealeProduced by Abigail le FlemingCastShahrazad: Sirine SabaShahrayar: Kevork MalikyanJoe: Stephen TompkinsonMargot: Joanna MonroMira: Indira VarmaAffyah: Jasmine JonesJuliba: Melissa AdvaniA Dish of PomegranatesWritten by Peter JukesDirected by Mary PeateProduced by Abigail le FlemingCastShahrazad: Sirine SabaShahrayar / Vardan: Kevork MalikyanAjib: William El-GardiOrit: Betsabeh EmranRafi: Zubin VarlaHoward: Allan CordunerJulia: Keely BeresfordCafé Owner: Stefan KaliphaTawfik / Trader 2: Mozaffar ShafeieTrader 1 / Flight Attendant: David SeddonProtestor: Rufus WrightOriginally broadcast in March 2010.©2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd