In Gaza
by Jomana Zaqout
Genre: Poetry
Written by Jomana Zaqout and narrated by Katie Leung
This audio Copyright ©2024 by Jomana Zaqout
Part of the GAZA: heard series of poems, written by inhabitants of Gaza, read by acting talents from the big screen
'In Gaza' is part of a series of poems created by students living in Gaza. Written by Jomana Zaqout and read by Katie Leung, 'In Gaza' tells of a life lived on the limits of endurance and survival.
With special thanks to the Qattan Foundation, a charity operating in Gaza, for connecting us with some of the most talented creatives among us.
about the author
Jomana Zaqout is from Gaza City and has found expression through her poetry:
“I started writing poetry when this cruel war began, because I needed a way to formulate my hard times. Poetry was a way to speak my tears, sighs, screams and cries. My inspiration for writing is the urge to deliver the truth, our reality, to the world.”
Already published here in audio form, as well as in print with Al-Qattan, Jomana has dreams of becoming a famous poet and having her words translated into different languages across the world. But more than that, Jomana hopes to makes Palestinian voices audible to the rest of the world.
“I hope to return my people’s rights, by the power of the word and the poem.”
about the narrator
Katie featured in the most recent BBC One thriller Nightsleeper and can currently be seen in Amazon sci-fi The Peripheral from the makers of Westworld. She voices the character of Caitlyn Kiramman in the award winning animation series Arcane.
She has recently appeared in the second season of Wheel of Time for Amazon and in Paramount’s book adaptation series Chemistry of Death.
Katie starred in the BBC/ Alibi series Annika alongside Nicola Walker and her further leading TV credits include Chimerica (Channel 4); One Child (BBC2), Run (Channel 4); and Strangers (BBC/ Amazon).
She played Jackie Chan’s daughter in the feature film The Foreigner and she is also well known from her role as Cho Chang in the Harry Potter films. She was announced as a BAFTA Breakthrough Brit for 2014.
On stage Katie has recently performed in Branden Jacobs-Jenkins play The Comeuppance at the Almeida and her further leading stage credits include Snow in Midsummer (RSC), You For Me For You (Royal Court), The World of Extreme Happiness (National Theatre) and Wild Swans (Young Vic).
She is currently filming Bridgerton season 4 for Netflix.
Katie Leung Instagram: instagram.com/_katieleung_/
about the artist
The cover for this book was designed from a painting by Grace Woodward.
Grace Woodward is an award winning multidisciplinary creative working across Fashion, Music and the Arts. She has work in The V&A, The Royal Academy of Art, numerous celebrity clients and consulted to major leading brands.
Grace Woodward Instagram: instagram.com/gracewoodward/