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 ideal of heroism is set against the individual's right to be afraid, to hesitate, to lay down their burden.

The production takes its starting point in 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 - he traces the painting's mythic history (lost, found, destroyed, reproduced) and allows its silent bearer to step forward as real people: tired, strong and vulnerable. Four actors and a musician together explore the question: What happens to a person when they are reduced to a symbol?

Cast: Ehab Abed, Wajdi Khalid, Reem Talhami, Nicola Zreineh and Wouter de Belder (music). Written and directed by Bashar Murkus. Set design: Nancy Mkaabal and Bashar Murkus. Lighting design: Bart Verzellenberg. Technical project manager and set production: Issam Rishmawi and Simon Haen. Assistant director: Hadil Khateb.

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