The Discreet Charm of the Pillars of Society - Ahmed El Attar

An exploration of love, politics, and class through an interethnic relationship between a Syrian woman and a Swedish man

Acclaimed Egyptian theater maker Ahmed El Attar’s The Discreet Charm of the Pillars of Society follows the life of a Syrian woman who meets a Swedish man. The two fall in love, and their well-to-do families meet for the first time at the couple’s wedding. The families are divided by race, gender, and religion, but a common passion unites them: the pursuit of wealth. The intersections between love, politics, and class are exposed as the families unravel.

In its depiction of the ultra-wealthy, The Discreet Charm of the Pillars of Society breaks away from stereotypical representations of Syrians as refugees and instead reveals how global class relations can transcend race and other barriers, in pursuit of a mutual appetite for dominance. The play includes biting commentary with quick and sharp dialogue in Arabic, Swedish, and English, and begs the question: With a world in chaos, opportunities abound for a select few – but at what price?

“Using fast-paced storytelling, the play captures the complexity and nuance of human relationships, and it also involves COVID, vaccine trafficking, and a lot of other exciting and intriguing events” - Ahmed El Attar

With this play, El Attar has become the first Arab writer and director to be commissioned by Dramaten, Sweden's National Theater, and one of the country’s most iconic cultural institutions since its establishment in 1788. The play builds on El Attar’s fascination with the family, evident in his trilogy consisting of Life is Beautiful or Waiting for My Uncle from America (2000), The Last Supper  (2014), and Mama (2018). 

The play is performed in Arabic, Swedish, and English and is also subtitled in Arabic and English.