Borders הגדר السياج

Director

An intimate, romantic and heartbreaking two-hander about an impossible love between two potential enemies on Grindr.

Cast & Creatives

BOAZ is played by Yaniv Yafe

GEORGE is played by Tarik Badwan

WRITER Nimrod Danishman

DIRECTOR Neta Gracewell

SET & COSTUME DESIGNER Ethan Cheek

ORIGINAL MUSIC Bar Harel

MOVEMENT DIRECTOR Adi Gortler

LIGHTING DESIGN Cheng Keng

ASSOCIATE PRODUCER & STAGE MANAGER Maria Majewska

TRANSLATOR Adi Drori

GRAPHIC DESIGN Shachar Tzin

* George was previously played by Joseph Samimi and Karim Motaz

Boaz and George meet on Grindr. One in Israel, the other in Lebanon. Unable to meet physically, they dive into deep conversation. The secret love they foster fills a void each has been carrying. But as their urge to meet increases, the border between the countries heats up and they’re forced to make difficult decisions.

Inspired by a real encounter between the Israeli writer and a Lebanese man on Grindr, Borders is a story about two people, never meant to meet or connect, who try to form an intimate relationship against all odds. Scripted very delicately and movingly with a touch of humour, it addresses the many complexities of the Middle East reality in which the geopolitical circumstances we are born into dictate the people we can naturally connect with.

Presented at:

VAULT Festival 2023, London (2023)

OSO Arts Centre, London (2022)

Drayton Arms Theatre, VAULT Festival 2022 transfer season, London (2022)

Shout Festival for Queer Arts, Birmingham (2021)

Awards:

VAULT Festival Origins Award (nominated)

Off Fest 2023 (long list)

From the press

All That Dazzles

London Theatre Reviews

West End Best Friend

Broadway World

The Reviews Hub

Lou Reviews

Theatre and Other Things

Theatre Weekly

Fringebiscuit

"An inspired and inspiring debut play... Neta Gracewell directs the script into a fully formed and concise production with a clear-cut vision."

- Broadway World

"All aspects of the production from the writing, direction, design and performances are tender in their execution, creating great intimacy on stage between the two men"

- West End Best Friend

“absorbing, insightful, dramatic and unique"

- Theatre and Other Things

"Original, heartfelt and darkly funny...The direction by Neta Gracewell and writing by Nimrod Danishman compliment each other perfectly"

- London Theatre Reviews

"Nimrod Danishman’s play is intimate, funny, tender, harsh, and everything in between. Neta Gracewell’s direction addresses the heart of the piece and creates a world of shadows, movement, hope, and the chance to be who you are...

It is an electric debut and a definite hit."

- Lou Reviews

"the chemistry between the two characters is electrifying."

- The Reviews Hub

"Yaniv Yafe and Tarik Badwan both give beautfully nuanced performances"

-There Ought To Be Clowns

About the process

Borders הגדר ألسياج is my directorial debut.

A play that I have deeply connected to from my first encounter with it back in Tel Aviv, when it was a staged reading, a university showcase directed by Danishmand himself.

Shortly after moving to the UK, I knew this is the first play I'd like to bring here.

Since I started working on it in 2021 this has seen 4 R&D processes, with 3 different actors playing the role of George, and numerous changes to the music, staging and movement. It has been a joyously challenging ride.

One of the things that I'm mostly proud of is how this show touches audiences and enables the beginning of an essential, yet empathetic, discussion.

“Very emotional and real”

“Authentic, genuine and very hot!”

“Great illustration of a cultural and social context not many people in the UK are familiar with”

“Memorable and heartfelt performance, well acted and executed”

“The difficulties of inter-racial/cultural relationships was brilliant“

“A deeper and more personal insight into life in the Middle East and how conflict impacts individuals”