Cracked Stone

In the searing heat of Aswan’s Northern Quarry, Senenmut, chief architect to Pharaoh Hatshepsut, confronts an unthinkable setback – a deep crack in the granite obelisk destined to be the tallest ever built. With three sides carved and shaped, the crack threatens to end the project and displease Egypt’s formidable ruler. As Senenmut ponders how to deliver this devastating news, the story unfolds against the backdrop of Hatshepsut’s reign and her extraordinary architectural legacy. Written by Sarah Fleming, performed by Joanna Lumley.