ruins أطلال

What is our heart’s journey when our world is split in two?

Grief-stricken by her late father’s sudden death, Amelia Alyssa embarks on a journey to her ancestral homeland, Lebanon. She bears witness to the ancient Baalbek ruins of the Bekaa Valley while lodging nearby at the Hotel Palmyra, a time capsule of a flourishing yesteryear. 

 An enduring myth of migration and sacrifice brings Amelia face to face with the question “where is home”? Past and present collide as Amelia enters the land of the dead where a chorus of shapeshifting wanderers evoke a descent into an archaeological underworld with mythic overtones.

Written and directed by Emily Ayoub and Madeline Baghurst

Artistic Producer Kate Gaul

Video Designer Laura Turner

Lighting Designer Frankie Clarke

Sound Designer Johnny Yang

Stage Manager Dylan Ford

Cast

Adam Al Kuheli

Emily Ayoub

Madeline Baghurst

Tony Poli

Piumi Wijesundara

With special thanks to Mine Cerci (Dramaturgical support), Michael Mohammad Ahmed (Script consultancy support), Michael Pigott, Critical Path, Dom Mercer and the staff of Belvoir. Our heartfelt thanks to Rima Husseini, owner of the Hotel Palmyra for her knowledge, wisdom and kindness. The development of this project is supported by the Ethics Centre Residency program and Shopfront Arts.

Clockfire Theatre Company thanks participants of their May 2023 Chorus Intensive Labe, whose research into chorus contributed to the making of this work.