ruins أطلال
TOUR DATES
WOLLONDILLY PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE OCTOBER 24-25
⭐⭐⭐⭐ “…a must-see in its full-scale debut.” Sydney Morning Herald
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “…a stunningly realised masterpiece of movement... one of the most important and relevant pieces to come to life in the current Australian theatre landscape.” What’s The Show
“This is innovative storytelling.” Sydney Arts Guide
"… a play like no other… reinventing the very language of theatre." Eastside FM
“…a beautifully realised evocation of a migrant’s quest to explore her homeland and cultural legacy.” South Sydney Herald
How far back does home begin?
Grief-stricken by her father’s sudden death, Amelia Alissa travels to her ancestral homeland, Lebanon. Amid the ancient Baalbek ruins and the faded splendour of the Palmyra Hotel, a place alive with memory and myth, she begins to uncover the fragments of her past.
Her journey, entwined with a timeless tale of migration and sacrifice, runs alongside her father’s homecoming story during Lebanon’s civil war in the 1980s. As the two paths converge, Amelia is drawn into the truths of legacy, sacrifice and the meaning of home.
Clockfire Theatre Company is a physical theatre company creating original works through improvisation and collaboration, influenced by training at Jacques Lecoq Theatre School. RUINS أطلال harnesses innovative storytelling, ensemble performance and the distinctive visual language that defines Clockfire’s work.
Following a successful initial season as part of 25A in 2024, RUINS أطلال is now expanded into a full scale work for major presentation within the 2025 Seymour Season.
Produced in association with Seymour Centre
Co-devised Emily Ayoub and Madeline Baghurst
Director Emily Ayoub
Set Designer Cris Baldwin
Lighting Designer Frankie Clarke
Composer Johnny Yang
Video Designer Laura Turner
Ensemble Collaborator Mitch Riley
Script Consultant Michael Mohammad Ahmed
Stage Manager Dylan Ford
Associate Video Designer Finlay Hogan
Video Supervisor Thomas Bensley
Cast Randa Sayed, Youssef Sabet, Adeeb Razzouk, Tony Poli, Piumi Wijesundara, Madeline Baghurst with the voice of Olive Magee
Musicians Gianna Cheung, Jessica Scott
Image credit Geoff Magee
With special thanks to Mine Cerci (Dramaturgical support), Michael Mohammad Ahmed (Script consultancy support), Michael Pigott, Critical Path, Dom Mercer and the staff of Belvoir. Our heartfelt thanks to Rima Husseini, owner of the Hotel Palmyra for her knowledge, wisdom and kindness. The development of this project is supported by the Ethics Centre Residency program and Shopfront Arts.
Clockfire Theatre Company thanks participants of their May 2023 Chorus Intensive Lab, whose research into chorus contributed to the making of this work.
