- Venue Royal Court Theatre, London
- Performance dates Booking to 9 May 2026
- Running time 1 hour 5 minutes (no interval)
- Age guidelines 14+
Between the River and the Sea is a poignant, internationally acclaimed exploration of identity, fatherhood, and life beyond borders.
★★★★ “Sweid is an extraordinarily engaging presence” (What’s On Stage)
“Yes, I am an Arab… from Israel… a Palestinian Israeli.”
Yousef was raised as a Christian-Arab-Palestinian-Israeli child in Haifa. Today, he is in Berlin, raising two Jewish-Arab-Austrian children. But as a complex custody battle begins to unfold, the labels that defined his past begin to collide with his future.
Between the River and the Sea is a deeply moving story about family, fear, and imagining a future beyond borders.
Following a celebrated run at the Maxim Gorki Theater in Berlin and widespread international acclaim, this powerful production makes its highly anticipated arrival at the Royal Court Theatre.
Written by and starring Yousef Sweid and written and directed by Isabella Sedlak, Between the River and the Sea offers a rare, intimate perspective on the intersection of heritage and parenthood in a globalised world.
Show Highlights
- International Transfer: Direct from a successful premiere at Berlin’s prestigious Maxim Gorki Theater.
- A Personal Odyssey: A semi-autobiographical look at the complexities of being a Palestinian-Israeli
- Acclaimed Creative Team: Co-written by celebrated actor/writer Yousef Sweid and director/writer Isabella Sedlak.
Between the River and the Sea is playing at the Royal Court Theatre from 15 April to 9 May 2026.
Photos
Stars and Creatives
Who is in the cast of Between the River and the Sea?
Starring Yousef Sweid
Who are the creative team of Between the River and the Sea?
- Isabella Sedlak (She/her) – Co-Writer and Director
- Yousef Sweid (He/him) – Co-Writer & Performer
- Thomas Moked Blum – Composition and Sound Design
- Jack Farrell – Lead Producer
- Steven Atkinson – Executive Producer
Important Notes
Access Performances: Chilled: Sat 9 May, 14:00; Babes in Arms: Thu 23 Apr, 15:00; Age UK: Thu 30 Apr, 15:00; Captioned: Thu 30 Apr, 19:45
Venue Information
Royal Court Theatre , Sloane Square, London, SW1W 8AS
Nearest Tube or Train: Sloane Square (Circle Line, District Line)
Nearest Buses: 19, 22, 319, C1, N19, N22, 137, 452
Google
AppleCritics' reviews of Between the River and the Sea
★★★★ "Gently teasing, wryly provocative" - The Times
★★★★ "Sweid is an extraordinarily engaging presence" - What's On Stage
★★★★ "Sweid’s warmth and the passion he has for his children’s future offer an optimistic view" - The Reviews Hub
★★★★ "Marries provocation with emotional intelligence" - Broadway World
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