Arabian Nights (Young Vic stage version)

A simple and delightfully inventive re-telling of the stories from the Arabian Nights.

It is wedding night in the palace of King Shahrayar. By morning the new Queen Shahrazad is to be put to death, like a thousand young brides before her. But she has one gift that could save her – the gift of storytelling. Can the young Queen transport the vengeful King to the mystical land of her stories?

On her side she has a rich array of characters including Ali Baba, Es-Sinbad the Sailor and Princess Parizade – adventurers in strange and magical worlds populated by giant beasts, talking birds and crafty thieves. Will her silver-tongued storytelling save her life?

This edition was published alongside the Young Vic's production in 1998. A revised version performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2009 is available here.