Hannah Khalil\u2019s new play sprang from her surprise at seeing the great Egyptian actor had performed at the Festival theatre in the 1980s. She explains how it entwined with a story of her mixed-heritage identity<\/p>\n
A few years ago the playwright Hannah Khalil was queuing for the loos at Chichester Festival theatre when she spotted Omar Sharif, in a prince\u2019s costume, on the wall. The photograph was part of a gallery showing stars who had graced the Chichester stage. \u201cI was like: \u2018Omar, what the hell are you doing in Chichester?\u2019\u201d says Khalil. \u201cI really wanted to know more.\u201d<\/p>\n
You could call that moment a bolt out of the loo: instantly, it set her on the trail of her latest play, Love Omar. When had the Egyptian actor visited Sussex and what had local audiences made of him? Khalil\u2019s director husband, Chris White, hails from Chichester. \u201cI began asking his parents because they have lived there for a long time,\u201d she says. \u201cThey vaguely remembered him coming to do the show.\u201d<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/2b283eb50d04dc428681a24b3ff8ec1b2111c2e0\/501_58_2553_2043\/master\/2553.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=4c96f3b6d7bcb3dc87331325d692324e\" "\\"\u2018Omar,")
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