Theatre of the Society for Macedonian Studies
8 June, 21:15
 
Told by my Mother
a dance performance by Ali Chahrour
 
This performance is about intimate family hardships and tragedies faced by mothers: bodies, voices, and hidden small battles dwelling in Beirut and its suburbs. It brings together Laila Chahrour, the mother; her son Abbas, who decided at 18, to join the ranks of the fighters; and Ali Chahrour, choreographer, dancer, and Laila’s nephew. He shares with his aunt the story and journey of their cousin Fatima, who spent her lifetime looking for her lost son Hassan, that went missing in Syria, since 2013. Tagging along are the Syrian actress Hala Omran lending her whole-hearted voice to the story, accompanied by musicians Alin Hout and Abed Kobeissi. The performance’s musical approach take reference the songs of those very same families on occasions of grief and joy; a cultural heritage of Arab folk songs.
 
Lebanese dancer and choreographer Ali Chahrour gives us the second part of a new trilogy about love, finding inspiration for his poignant stories in his own family history and in a torn-up Lebanon. At the center of it all, a mother, Leila. Next to her, her child, Abbas, whom she's trying to protect from becoming a martyr. A little further, another mother, Fatmeh, who never stopped looking for her missing child, Hassan. And on and on in infinite loops. With their stories, those ordinary heroines give voice to their tenderness and to the intensity of their maternal love. On the stage, they give birth to heartrending family portraits, so striking in the infinite beauty of filial relations. Ali Chahrour, actress Hala Omra, and the musicians of Two or The Dragon accompany those stories with a music inspired as much by Arab culture as by urban sounds. Movements, songs, words, and music give the generations the chance to come together or split apart, like the narrow and unfathomable love between a mother and her child.
 
Duration: 70΄
Language: Arabic
Surtitles: English, Greek 

Following the performance (8/6), a discussion with the audience will take place, moderated by Philip Hager (Assistant Professor of Theatre Studies,
School of Drama, Faculty of Fine Arts, AUTH)  
The discussion will be accompanied by simultaneous interpretation in Greek Sign Language.