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 individual's right to be afraid, to doubt, to lay down their burden.

Under Palestinian director 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? The story draws from 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. In Marklyft, Murkus brings the artwork to life and allows its silent bearer to step forward as real people: tired, strong and vulnerable.

Cast: Ehab Abed, Wajdi Khalid, Reem Talhami, Nicola Zreineh and Wouter de Belder (music). Written and directed by: Bashar Murkus. Set design: Nancy Mkaabal & Bashar Murkus. Lighting design: Bart Verzellenberg.

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes. Produced by Al Harah Theater/Palestine, in collaboration with Boy Jonkergouw Producties/Netherlands and Riksteatern/Sweden. Supported by AFAC & The Danish House in Palestine.