Marklyft

Marklyft is a visual, poetic and physical performance about the human condition of endurance amid collective trauma - about the burden of resistance and the power of symbols, where the heroic ideal is set against the individual's right to be afraid, to hesitate, to lay down their burden.

The starting point is Suleiman Mansour's iconic painting Jamal Al Mahamel, in which a nameless man carries an entire city on his back. The image has come to symbolize the Palestinian people's resilience and resistance. In Marklyft, director Bashar Murkus brings the artwork to life and traces its mythical history - lost, found, destroyed, reproduced - and allows its silent bearer to emerge as real people: tired, strong and vulnerable.

Four actors and one musician meet on stage: Ehab Abed, Wajdi Khalid, Reem Talhami, Nicola Zreineh and Wouter de Belder. Performance duration: 1 hour 30 minutes.

Directed and written by: Bashar Murkus. Set design: Nancy Mkaabal, Bashar Murkus. Music: Wouter de Belder. Lighting design: Bart Verzellenberg. Technical project management and set production: Issam Rishmawi, Simon Haen. Assistant director: Hadil Khateb. Produced by Al Harah Theater/Palestine, in collaboration with Boy Jonkergouw Producties/Netherlands and Riksteatern/Sweden. Supported by AFAC & The Danish House in Palestine.