‘This play is not simply a work of fiction. It is a cultural document, a mirror held up to a nation still learning how to see itself fully.’ — Joanne Kee
To succeed in life is to be good with one’s hands. For Joe, that means turning scrap into treasure. For Karim, that means learning the strings of his neighbour Abdul’s oud.
In the rural town of Tahmoor, Joe and Karim—father and son—farm Lebanese cucumbers on borrowed land. Both born in Australia and unmoored from their family’s ancestral roots in Lebanon, Joe is satisfied with his lot, while Karim yearns for something more. When father and son are suddenly evicted, Abdul offers them shelter—and an unexpected path back to their heritage.
As Abdul teaches Karim the oud, their music stirs something deeper: a longing for connection, identity, and a world beyond the stillness of Tahmoor.
‘Elazzi has a proven eye for blending the tender and humorous’ — ArtsHub
‘James Elazzi’s work embodies the intersection of Queer identity, migration and culture in a way that is both urgent and timeless.’ — Qtopia
