Blood Gold and Oil: A Play by Jan Woolf

Rootball & Chromolume Theatre present 

Blood Gold and Oil 

“We fought on a lie” 

Written by Jan Woolf | Directed by Isaac Bernier–Doyle 

Upstairs at the Gatehouse, London on  25 – 30 April 2023 

From the Arab revolt of the First World War, a modern hero is constructed: the complex, flawed figure of Lawrence of Arabia. His legacy is as conflicted as his psyche. Brilliant military commander? Agent of British Imperialism? Vulnerable fantasist? Freedom Fighter?  

Set in the present day, as an exhibition of the genuine archaeological finds (on loan from the Great Arab Revolt archaeological dig in Jordan) is set up in a museum, the ghost of Lawrence of Arabia is summoned through the passions of the archaeologist. Yet reality and agency reside in the more grounded figure who thinks about the future rather than the past.  

Written for the 20th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, Jan Woolf started the play as writer in residence with the Great Arab Revolt archaeological dig in Jordan in 2013 where she ‘dug a play out of the desert.’  More information about Jan here.