Playwright Hannah Khalil’s latest work, “Love Omar,” was born from her astonishment upon discovering a photograph of the renowned Egyptian actor Omar Sharif performing at the Chichester Festival Theatre in the 1980s. This unexpected revelation ignited her curiosity about his time in Sussex and its impact on local audiences.
Khalil recalls spotting Sharif, dressed as a prince, on a wall of past performers while waiting at the theatre. “I was like: ‘Omar, what the hell are you doing in Chichester?'” she exclaimed, a sentiment that immediately fueled her desire to investigate further.
This surprising encounter, which Khalil humorously termed a “bolt out of the loo,” set her on the path to creating her new play. Her curiosity led her to inquire about Sharif’s visit to Sussex and the reception he received. As her husband, Chris White, is from Chichester, Khalil began asking his parents, long-time residents of the town, who had a faint recollection of Sharif performing there.