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(c) Kurt Van der Elst

Woman At Point Zero

LOD / Laila Soliman, Bushra El-Turk & Stacy Hardy
Sun 10 Jul - Fri 30 Jun
10 Jul
-
30 Jun

Woman at Point Zero is a multimedia opera about emancipation, inspired by the book by Egyptian author and feminist Nawal El Saadawi. 

Woman at Point Zero is an opera by LOD music theatre inspired by the novel by Egyptian writer and feminist Nawal El Saadawi. The opera tells the story of two women: Fatma, who is a self-made feminist and activist imprisoned for man-slaughter and Sama, a young ambitious documentary filmmaker who wants to tell Fatma's story. Fatma describes to Sama how she searches for freedom from the vicious cycle of violence that controls her life. As their relationship unfolds over the course of one day, they share their memories, experiences and secrets - moving from distrust to curiosity and solidarity and finally friendship. What does it mean to be a woman? What does it mean to be liberated? Is it possible to be freer in prison than outside? 


From this universal story of abuse and emancipation, composer Bushra El-Turk, director Laila Soliman, writer Stacy Hardy and scenographer and film designer Bissane Al Charif create a multimedia opera. Conducted by Kanako Abe, the music blends Western and Eastern traditions, performed on a unique mix of ancient folk instruments by musicians from all over the world.

Part of
Bushra El-Turk
Laila Soliman
All Arias 2023
(c) Kurt Van der Elst
(c) Kurt Van der Elst
(c) Kurt Van der Elst
(c) Kurt Van der Elst

Credits

LOD / Laila Soliman, Bushra El-Turk & Stacy Hardy: Woman at Point Zero

composition Bushra El-Turk direction Laila Soliman libretto Stacy Hardy text based on Woman at Point Zero by Nawal El Saadawi published by Zed Books- Bloomsbury Publishing Plc scenography Bissane Al Charif video design Bissane Al Charif & Julia König director's assistant Barbara T'Jonck & Nadia Amin composer's assistant Furkan Keçeli documentary audio fragments Aida Elkashef musical direction Kanako Abe assistant musical director Ivan Cheng singers Dima Orsho & Carla Nahadi Babelegoto ensemble ZAR: Hyelim Kim (taegum), Milos Milivojevic (accordéon), Raphaela Danksagmuller (recorders, crumhorn, fujara, duduk, kaval), Chatori Shimizu (sho), Faraz Eshghi Sahraei (kamancha), Hanna Kölbel (cello) repetitor & live samples Samir Bendimered costumes Eli Verkeyn stage manager Patrick Vanderhaeghen light design Loes Schakenbos  video Johannes Ringoot light Jamy Hollebeke sound Carlo Thompson production manager Liesbet Termont production LOD muziektheater coproduction All Aria's festival (deSingel Antwerpen, Opera Ballet Vlaanderen, Concertgebouw Brugge & Transparant), Royal Opera House London, Shubbak Festival London, Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, Britten Pears Arts & Grand Théâtre de Luxembourg) with thanks to Kathleen Venneman & Victor Hidalgo with the support of enoa (European Network of Opera Academies), PRS Foundation, FEDORA, AFAC (The Arab Fund for Art and Culture), the British Council & the TAX Shelter Measure by the Belgian federal government tax shelter partner Flanders TAX Shelter 

with special thanks to Mariem Abutaleb, Joel Bell, Nawal El Saadawi, Nedjma Elhadj, Shady Elhusseiny, Michael Elisson, Victor Hidalgo, Rebecca Merritt, Ahmed Saaty, David Sawyer, Kathleen Venneman, Peter Wiegold, Kate Wyatt & Ruth Wyner

LOD-artists & composers

Bushra El-Turk

Laila Soliman