09/01/2024
In these difficult times where we have been called to bear witness to the violence inflicted on the body of our kin, the question of how to do so in the most effective manner begs itself. How can we open our hearts and expose our wounds without losing agency over our narrative? How can we share our stories without becoming desensitized, or numbing our friends and allies, to the cruelty we encounter regularly? And following Paul Celan's poignant closing lines in Ashglory;
No one
Bears witness for the
Witness
How can we bear witness for the witness?
I began conceptualizing this piece 2 years ago, as I felt compelled to delve into my own history and the stories told to me that provided solace through years of war and insecurity.
Telling our stories is more important today than ever. I hope to see many of you in the audience and after the show.
The piece will run @ the Club, on 74East 4th Street,
From February 8th till 10th @ 7:30pm.
And February 11th @ 5pm.
Link in my bio.
In a dystopian future where history lies in ruins, a cyborg sends signals via ASMR inducing sounds and visuals to the present. On stage, a performer intercepts these transmissions and invites the audience to bear witness to the foundational myth of their being.
Lula19/85 & the Pearl of the Bekaa is a performance exploring martyrdom through the bygone political struggle of the left in Lebanon. Inspired by the diary of Loula Abboud, a Lebanese freedom fighter, and the fragmented memories of Rawya El Chab, the witness, this sci-fi piece brings historical events into a world of anime.
To heal the wounds of colonial wars and imagine a better tomorrow, the witness has to conjure the dead and unveil a family secret.
The show is written, directed, performed and produced by myself, in collaboration with a group of talented artists;
, sound design & composition
, co-director & stage manager
Suneela Mubayi, translation & editing
, production design
scaletta, light design
, vocalist & composition
, creative consultant
And produced with the support of .fund
