First part of two performances. This one is Family-friendly for children 5+. Khayaal will perform five short stories.

Storytelling theatre performances (running time 45mins) of a collection of tales of wisdom, wonder and humour from Muslim cultures and heritages on the theme of Friendship & Beauty. Below synopses of a few of the tales that would feature in the collection:

The Blind Man and the Hunter

A beautiful story about heart centredness and the inner senses from West Africa, also found in East Africa. Audiences learn how a blind man who sees with his ears and hears with his heart unscrambles the puzzle of life for his famed hunter brother-in-law.

Merciful Encounter

A traveller takes a roadside nap under a tree only to be rudely awakened by a madman who subjects him to an ordeal whose purpose only becomes clear after much grief and toil. An allegorical tale by Jalaluddin Rumi, the best selling poet in the USA and Time Magazine’s Mystic of the 13th Century.

The Red Lantern

In the marketplace of Marrakesh, a generous sweet seller gives away more sweets than he can afford making friends with all of the children in his neighbourhood. His miserly brother will do nothing to help him. Penniless he decides to go on an adventure, taking with him his one possession, a little red lantern. He finds himself in a strange city, where his little red lantern becomes the key to fortune and friendship

Please note that doors will close shortly before the advertised time, so we request that you arrive 15 minutes before the start time.

About The Cambridge Festival of Islamic Arts

The Cambridge Festival of Islamic Arts runs from 19 to 29 November 2026, bringing performances, exhibitions, lectures, and workshops to Cambridge's historic colleges, museums, and cultural spaces. Open to everyone, the festival celebrates the beauty and diversity of Islamic arts, and, fifty years on from the landmark 1976 World of Islam Festival, carries that spirit into our own time. Find out more at cfia.co.uk.

Description supplied by the event organiser.