ZINA
VAULT Festival (2018)
ZINA, a devised verbatim play about female sexuality and feminism within Islam, debuted at VAULT Festival in February 2018.
“What would happen if one woman told the truth about her life? The world would split open.”
ZINA is a true story about an extraordinary woman: an artist, a feminist, and a Muslim. In 2016 she placed a provocative and challenging personal ad on Craigslist, looking for well-endowed men. All kinds of men responded, leading to months of online chatting. As Zina explores her sexual and inner life, she struggles to reconcile her emotions and her religious beliefs, while trying to figure out what will really bring her happiness and fulfillment.
ZINA is a radical exploration of female sexuality in its myriad forms, and the relationship between sex and religion, lust and convention. An open and honest look at female desire, this new work from feminist theatre collective Little but Fierce seeks to challenge stereotypes of Muslim women and present a feminist look at Islam.
Written and Directed by Jessica Cornfeld.
Starring Sarah-Jane Dent as Zina.
Gallery
Visual Collection
“How do you co-exist your God and your sex drive? Men seem to have no problem with this but in Little But Fierce’s Zina there is never a conclusion for our protagonist.
The most fascinating aspects of the play about Islam and the Qu’ran [show] a cheeky and strangely compassionate side of a religion that isn’t often painted as such. Plays about women’s unashamed sexual activity are still a rarity and Jessica Cornfeld and Anonymous’s script has real potential to open the minds of anyone who sees it.”
The it turns out extremely friendly Bronx teenagers helped knock my handbag to the ground, albeit laughing at me, which is fair. But still the tiny thief refused to yield. He's smelled chocolate and would not give up his trophy. Alas the zipper gap was just big enough for his own body, not enough for a bag of Wal*Mart's finest Reeses' peanut butter cups.
Again and again we battled, until finally we managed together to open the zipper. Wallet keys and 15 lipbalms scattered, but all I could see was a fluffy tail bouncing up and down into the distance, bearing an orange bag larger than its owner.
Now, back in London, I feed the squirrels in the park next to my building, so tame they politely wait in circles around me and gentle take cashew nuts directly from my hand. One even knows how to walk on his hind legs.
Telling this story to a group of Americans recently, exclaiming at the difference between American and British squirrels, on Louisiana native remarked, "Yeah, we have some ratchet-ass squ'alls in America."
Ratchet Ass Squ'alls is my band name.