Sufi or not Sufi? Was Shakespeare a Muslim?: There's an old joke about William Shakespeare being an Arab - how else, it explains, can you account for the name, Sheikh Zubair. Certainly the playwright's preoccupation with despotic leaders, times of civil unrest and bloodshed fit in perfectly with the tempestuous nature of contemporary Arab politics.

With 2004 marking the 400th Anniversary of the Bard's famous Moor, Othello, the Globe Theatre in London has organized an extensive season, titled simply 'Shakespeare and Islam.' Renowned authors, scholars and creative artists are contributing to a unique program of events from October to December, with gatherings ranging from talks, masterclasses and readings of rarely performed texts, all designed to engage with a cross-cultural audience.