Whispers of Tradition is a research-led project developed through Arts Council England support, exploring Irish and Moroccan folklore, history, and cultural memory. As part of the project, Laila travelled to Ireland and Morocco to research storytelling traditions, cultural practices, and inherited narratives, with the aim of tracing points of connection and tension between the two cultures.

The research resulted in two short-form films created on location in each country, alongside written and reflective material exploring how folklore, hospitality, and oral tradition shape identity and belonging. The project considers how stories are carried, adapted, and reimagined across generations and geographies.

The research culminated in a rehearsed reading of Spicy White, marking the first public sharing of the play. Developed with support from Arts Council England, the work draws on Laila’s Moroccan and Irish heritage and her wider interest in how race, gender, and class intersect in contemporary Britain.

The event also included a cultural exchange featuring Moroccan atay and Irish baking, reflecting on traditions of hospitality and shared ritual. It concluded with an in-conversation and Q&A between Laila Latifa and Fatima Serghini, creating space for dialogue around the research process, the play, and the role of folklore in contemporary storytelling.