Lady Tabouli will have its world premiere at Sydney Festival in January. James Elazzi’s play is unapologetic and piercing while still managing to be deliciously funny. It is a searing look at how expectations can eat away at us until we decide to change the rules. Director, Dino Dimitriadis has said “James Elazzi is a powerful and vital new voice in Australian playwriting. With humour and pathos he delves deep into culture, unafraid of the prickly questions and conversations. Lady Tabouli is exactly the kind of play we need on our stages – one that has the power to collide the past with the present and one that champions the unheard stories and voices. This is only the beginning for this talented writer.”
We have a chat with James and Dino about this new Australian work.
James, what was the inspiration behind Lady Tabouli?
The world around me, the people that I have grown up with, and my own personal experiences. Breaking cultural conventions because they create this little square, and if you don’t fit within these confines you are deemed an outcast. My hope is the break down these walls, script by script.
Dino, why did you want to get involved with this show?
I am drawn to new writing. It’s the site of unheard stories and voices. Presenting a world premiere is a fragile privilege. My job is to use my craft as a director to shepherd the play into being and to create a robust production while honouring the intention of the playwright.
Both, how has Lady Tabouli developed/evolved since it was first written and since its run at Batch Festival?
James: It has changed dramatically, purely because the initial run of Lady Tabouli was a development. I have re-written the piece so it’s as close to my truth as possible, so what you see – this end result – is exactly what I want to say.
Dino: It’s a new play. The heart of the work is intact, but it has found its complexity and muscularity. We used the BATCH season to ask questions, open up new enquiries and substantially grow the emotional world of the play.
James, Lady Tabouli is about culture clash. What cultures are clashing in this show and how does this play out?
These characters are a reflection of my community, family, and the people I love, and this play rips apart all the cultural conventions I have been brought up in, the hypocrisy of some of these conventions, and draws people’s flaws and the reasons behind their actions. This is what also drives my writing- I interrogate these conventions until I’m satisfied.
Both, how accessible is this story to Australia’s diverse communities?
James: It doesn’t matter what background you derive from, my hope is that everyone will connect with Lady Tabouli. It isn’t just about my specific background; it focuses on universal themes and issues of family, identity, and sacrifice.
Dino: This story transcends culture and place. It strikes at the heart of living in your truth while balancing he expectations of others. That’s something that everyone has confronted in some way.
Both, what sort of stories/works are you drawn to, and would like to work on in the future?
James: I’m drawn to people’s personal experiences, fails and successes, loss and love and everything in between, as long as it allows me to immerse into that world.
Dino: I am drawn to uncomfortable stories, messy worlds, stories that are hard to tell because they are filled with cans of worms. I am interested in working with artists who play by their own rules, artists who are unafraid to agitate, provoke, confront, question.
Thanks Dino and James for chatting with us.
Playwright: James Elazzi Director: Dino Dimitriadis Cast: Antony Makhlouf, Deborah Galanos, Johnny Nasser and Nisrine Amine Production Design: Jonathan Hindmarsh
Lighting: Benjamin Brockman Sound: Benjamin Pierpoint
Assistant Director (creative futures): Bernadette Fam
DATES & TIMES
Thursday 9 th January at 7.45pm (preview performance)
Friday 10 th January at 7.45pm (preview performance)
Saturday 11 th January at 7.45pm
Tuesday 14 th January at 7.45pm
Wednesday 15 th January at 7.45pm
Thursday 16 th January at 7.45pm
Friday 17 th January at 7.45pm
Saturday 18 th January at 2.30pm and 7.45pm
Tickets: Opening Night $74. Adult $59. Concession $55.
Available from https://riversideparramatta.com.au/NTofP/show/lady-tabouli/ or from the Box Office (02) 8839 3399.
Discounts available for Riverside Theatres’ Members.
Transaction fees: phone $4.60, web $3.60 and counter $2.60.
Venue: Riverside Theatres – Corner of Church and Market Streets, Parramatta
