Taking an acting class in college in Cairo, I came across a text called Back of the Throat, written by an Egyptian playwright in the U.S. by the name of Yussef El Guindi. As I read through the play, a controversial and thought-provoking narrative of the Arab-American experience post 9/11, through scenes of interrogation and invasion of privacy, I wanted a closer look at the process, and how someone became a playwright in this day and age. I called Yussef El Guindi in Seattle a few months ago over Zoom for Egyptian Streets’ Spotlight Sundays feature. Earlier this year, he won the 2021 Blue Ink Playwriting Award in Chicago. Who are you and what do you do? My name is Yussef El Guindi. I was born in Egypt, I ended up in the States and I’m a playwright. What do you remember about the first few years of your life? I have an early memory of being in the crib in Alexandria. I remember looking out of my crib and seeing somebody exiting the door. Then I seem to recall some sort of air raid practice where we had to turn…
Yussef El Guindi: From Acting to Playwriting, an Egyptian, British and American Life
July 31, 2021
