Golden Thread Productions Announces New International Commission with Playwright Abhishek Majumdar

This commission represents exactly what Golden Thread stands for: courageous storytelling that crosses borders, interrogates systems of power, and centers our shared humanity.”

— Sahar Assaf

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, UNITED STATES, January 29, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Golden Thread Productions, the first American theatre company devoted to the Middle East, is proud to announce a new international commission with acclaimed playwright Abhishek Majumdar. The commission will develop a groundbreaking new play inspired by the real-life story of a man imprisoned for over five years at Guantánamo Bay, adapted from the detailed book written by his lawyer, Joshua Colangelo-Bryan.

Drawing on interviews with a wide range of voices connected to Guantánamo, “The 11 Lives of Jaber Mohammad" (working title), based on Joshua Colangelo-Bryan's book, Through the Gates of Hell: American Injustice at Guantánamo Bay, will weave together a mosaic of perspectives spanning Cuba, the United States, Bahrain, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Saudi Arabia. Through this lens, Majumdar seeks to illuminate the human, political, and moral dimensions of one of the most complex and haunting sites of contemporary history.

Reflecting on the story and inspiration, playwright Majumdar writes, “In 2004, attorney Joshua Colangelo-Bryan arrived at Guantanamo Bay to meet Jaber Mohammed (a pseudonym), one of six Bahraini detainees his firm had agreed to represent. Colangelo-Bryan had heard these men were ‘among the most dangerous, best-trained, vicious killers on the face of the earth,’ as Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld put it. Colangelo-Bryan didn’t buy the rhetoric entirely, but did find himself wondering if he was about to meet a killer. Far from being threatening, though, Mohammed welcomed Colangelo-Bryan, even as his ankle was shackled to the floor. What developed was a friendship that has stood the test of time, leading to Jaber's release from Guantanamo and Joshua discovering a greater purpose in life.

This new commission is made possible through the generous gift from Tracy Aanenson, founder of Humanitas Media, a new nonprofit organization dedicated to amplifying stories that illuminate human rights and social justice. Humanitas Media published Colangelo-Bryan’s book, Through the Gates of Hell: American Injustice at Guantánamo Bay, on which this project is based.

“Humanitas Media exists to champion stories that stir empathy and challenge injustice,” states Aanenson. “We are proud to partner with Abhishek Majumdar and Golden Thread Productions on a work that conveys the profound power of art and advocacy to inspire change.”

“This commission represents exactly what Golden Thread stands for: courageous storytelling that crosses borders, interrogates systems of power, and centers our shared humanity,” said Sahar Assaf, outgoing Artistic Director of Golden Thread, on her final commission for the company. She added, “We are deeply grateful to Tracy Aanenson and Humanitas Media for recognizing the urgency of this work and helping us bring it to life.”

Golden Thread plans to develop the play through a multi-year process leading toward a world premiere. The play’s development will be guided by dramaturg Jocelyn Clarke, with a residency at Field Arts & Events Hall in Port Angeles, Washington. This partnership will offer the creative team space and resources to experiment, exchange ideas, and shape the work through an intensive collaborative process across disciplines and geographies.
Please visit www.goldenthread.org for more information.

About the Playwright
Abhishek Majumdar is a playwright, essayist, scenographer, and director working in India and internationally. His work has been produced and commissioned by leading theaters worldwide. He is an Arts Professor of Theater and Program Head of Theater at NYU Abu Dhabi.

About the Book Author
Joshua Colangelo-Bryan is Special Counsel at Human Rights First, where he spearheads impact litigation and advocacy efforts to uphold democratic principles and support defenders of human rights.

About Golden Thread Productions
Golden Thread Productions produces passionate and provocative plays from or about the Middle East that celebrate the multiplicity of its perspectives and identities. We bring the Middle East to the American stage, creating treasured cultural experiences for audiences of all ages and backgrounds. Visit www.goldenthread.org for more information.

About Humanitas Media
Humanitas Media was born from a belief in storytelling as a force for human rights. We amplify personal narratives that expose injustice, affirm dignity, and empower survivors to reclaim their voices. Visit www.humanitasmedia.org for more information.

Jacqui Daniels
Humanitas Media
+1 702-450-6464
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