When I saw the Sea
A dance performance by Ali Chahrour

From May 1 to 4, 2025 / Al Madina Theatre / 8:30 PM

SYNOPSIS
“When I Saw the Sea” opens the doors to untold stories, diving into the nightmares of the Kafala system. Three women give voice to the countless migrant domestic workers in Lebanon, navigating between exploitation and freedom, death and life’s defiant celebration. Fearless they sing with their bodies a lullaby made of fire, love, and justice.
"Between the sea and a city ablaze, an oak grips the earth, in its shadow a fox dances, and a girl stares, unwavering, into the horizon."

The performance is in Arabic and Amharic, with Arabic and English surtitles.

THE TEAM
Direction & Choreography: Ali Chahrour
Performers: Zena Moussa, Tenei Ahmad, Rania Jamal
Music composed and performed by: Lynn Adib, Abed Kobeissy
Assistant to the direction & choreography: Chadi Aoun
Light design & Technical director: Guillaume Tesson
Assistant to the technical director: Pol Seif
Sound designer: Benoît Rave
Scenography : Guillaume Tesson, Ali Chahrour
Communication manager: Chadi Aoun
Photography: Lea Skayem
Graphic design: Christina Atik
Text editing: Hala Omran
Text translation: Marianne Noujeim

PRODUCTION
Produced by: Ali Chahrour
Production managers: Christel Salem, Chadi Aoun

CO-PRODUCED BY
Le Festival d’Avignon / Ibsen Scope / HAU Hebbel am Ufer, Berlin / Arab fund for arts and culture (AFAC) / Al Mawred al Thaqafi / DeSingel Antwerp / Domino Zagreb, Perforations Festival / Holland Festival / Zürcher Theater Spektakel / Al Madina Theater

WITH THE SUPPORT OF
Beryte Theater / L’Institut Français de Beyrouth / Wicked Solutions / WASL Productions / Beit el Laffé /  Raseef, Beirut / Houna center / Orient 499

SPECIAL THANKS
Kafa / Megaphone / Daraj Media / Hammana Artist House / Zoukak Theatre / Seenaryo / Mohana Ishak / Hussein Hajj / Abdallah Hatoum / Anthony Sahyoun / Ali Khedr / Eric Deniaud / Chrystèle Khodr / Raymond Zakaria / Hind Hamdan / Viany Ngemakoue / Sophie Ndongo / Jouma Fayé / Mariam Sesay / Sarie Teshome / Aisha Temam / Raheel Teshome / Mihret Birhane / Laurentine Mbekati

Tickets available at Antoine ticketing