Lauren Pepperell and Angham Mardi
about the show
أنا معاك / I’m Here With You is an immersive four-episode audio drama exploring the stories of different characters as they call a mental health helpline and reveal the reasons that may lead to their collapse.
Layla is a dancer who calls the helpline after a life-changing event shatters her dreams. Joe is a regular caller struggling to make ends meet and trapped in an endless conflict with his wife. Sara isn’t sure who she’s calling, she was given the helpline number at her friend’s funeral and is scared she’ll meet a similar fate. Noah dedicates his life to listening to others, but doesn’t find the support he’s looking for. One thing connects them all: a desire to be heard.
Produced in Arabic and English translation, each episode acts as a momentary portal into the personal stories and uncomfortable emotions of each character’s struggle with the internal and external conflicts they face. These thought-provoking stories are drawn from real-life experiences and put a spotlight on a universal human need for support whilst unraveling the specific conditions of each individual, including those who provide support to others
أنا معاك / I’m Here With You is written by Angham Mardi and translated by Lauren Pepperell and co-produced by both partners as a part of the New Conversations, UK-Egypt, creative partnerships programme.
Trailer forأنا معاك / I’m Here With You:
Lauren Pepperell (UK)
Lauren Pepperell is a Translator & Podcast Producer who hosted Ten Stories in Translation episodes on The Green Room Alexandria and founded Komet Kashakeel. She is currently providing translations for Mudawanat and Splash & Ripple’s Play Inside 2 and interning with Kerning Cultures. She holds an MA in Arabic-English Translation (Distinction).
Angham Mardi (Egypt)
Angham Mardi writes poetry, short stories and playscripts, narrates/performs her work online and live and co-founded el-Qaadah. Current playscript projects include the 2nd international series of Splash & Ripple’s experimental podcast Play Inside, funded by The British Council.
Additional collaborators:
Sound Engineer, Sound Design and Music: Mahmoud El Saghir (Alexandria, Egypt)
Sound Engineer: Mo at AB Recording Studios (UK)
Starring Arabic Voice Actors from el-Qaadah Theatre (Alexandria, Egypt):
Angham Mardi as Layla
Mohamed Ibrahim Amer as Joe
Hamsa Khamis Mohamed as Sara
Eslam Mohamed Mikhemar as Noah
Special thanks to Villa 70's Studio Alexandria
Starring English Voice Actors from Alleyway Radical Theatre and MENA Arts UK (London, UK):
Lisa Maeda as Layla
Waleed Hammad as Joe
Sara El Sheekh as Sara
Tahir Shah as Noah
Special thanks to AB Recording Studios London
Additional collaborators
Website: kometkashakeel.com
Marketing: Susannah O'Sullivan
Podcast Artwork: Mohaned Khater
Alleyway Radical Theatre
el-Qaadah Theatre Collective
Green Room Podcast Alexandria
Komet Kashakeel