Marklyft

Marklyft is a visual, poetic and physical story about human resilience in the midst of collective trauma - about the burden of resistance and the power of symbols, where the heroic ideal is set against the right to be human. Under the direction of Bashar Murkus, four actors and a musician explore a question that is both political and existential: What happens to a person when they are reduced to a symbol? Do they have the right to feel fear? Do they ever have the right to set down their burden?

The production is based on Suleiman Mansour's iconic painting Jamal Al Mahamel, in which a nameless man carries an entire city on his back - an image that has become a symbol of Palestinian resilience and resistance. Murkus brings the artwork to life through the painting's mythic history: lost, found, destroyed, reproduced. Its silent bearer steps forward in flesh and blood - weary, strong and vulnerable.

Cast: Ehab Abed, Wajdi Khalid, Reem Talhami, Nicola Zreineh and Wouter de Belder (music).

Script and direction: Bashar Murkus. Set design: Nancy Mkaabal, Bashar Murkus. Music: Wouter de Belder. Lighting design: Bart Verzellenberg. Technical project manager and set production: Issam Rishmawi, Simon Haen. Assistant director: Hadil Khateb.

Performance length: 1 hour 30 minutes. A co-production with Al Harah Theater/Palestine, in collaboration with Boy Jonkergouw Producties/Netherlands and Riksteatern/Sweden. Supported by AFAC & The Danish House in Palestine.