Dubai is treated to an epic look at Levantine history with a lively new stage play, return of the phoenix.
For over half a century, the Rahbani family has created some of the most memorable theatre in the history of their native Lebanon and indeed, the Arab world. Today Osama and Marwan Rahbani bring their thought-provoking theatre — which is generally known for tackling difficult social and political issues — to Dubai, with the debut of Return of the Phoenix. The historical epic of a world that falls between two foreign powers at the height of the Phoenician civilisation is set around atmospheric Byblos in 1370 BC.
"Byblos was the city that exported the alphabet to the rest of the world," explains the play's director, Marwan Rahbani. "All eyes were on this small kingdom. Foreign powers admired it for its beautiful scenery and nature, water and strategic position. When the Hittites and the Pharaohs tried to claim the city, its people split up in support of the two opposing groups. The conflict started there."
Land of the Phoenicians
Return of the Phoenix was originally created by famed Rahbani patriarch, Mansour. But the version Dubai audiences will see is a new interpretation by his son Osama, who also wrote the music to accompany the play. "The subject matter should tickle the viewer," says Osama. "Music mingles with the story, poetry and script. As I write ideas, I seek the opinion of my father Mansour. He wrote the play differently but there is an interplay of ideas, a dispute, an agreement, sympathy and development."
Osama hopes the play will inspire the Lebanese to revisit their past in order to learn from it. "We are from the land of the Phoenicians. People have to realise that they have to surpass the past — not live in it and not forget it. In Lebanon, there still exists individualism, selfishness, sectarianism but the emotional intellect of the people has to advance. This is how we develop," he says.
Although the play is set in Byblos, the issue at hand is not irrelevant to Dubai, according to Osama: "Dubai chose us, and we were delighted. Byblos has its story, but so does Dubai. There is human instinct and conflict in all the cities of the world: love, passion, hospitality, killing."
The Rahbanian brand of theatre forgets no details: the music and lyrics, the carefully designed costumes, the set building, lighting and mesmerising choreography render the play an unforgettable performance — every single time.
"Plays like these require at least three to four years of preparation, from script-writing to stage performance, but unfortunately we don't have this luxury: we have financial and time limits," Marwan says.
The cast
- Return of the Phoenix features some of the most renowned performers in Arab theatre, including Antoine Karbage, Gassan Saliba, Rifaat Tarabay, Takla Chamoun, Paul Sleiman and many more.
- Antoine Kerbage appears as the king of Byblos, Arabaadi. Speaking of the city of which he plays the king, Karbage said: "Byblos is not a military city or war zone. It has a great cultural heritage… Byblos is the kingdom of thought, intellect and culture and so it provokes the envy of neighbouring empires."
- The Rahbanis are known for fostering young talent, and Hiba Tawaji is the latest star to rise from their stable. Hiba plays the role of Roxana, daughter of the king of Byblos who falls for the rebellious knight, played by Gassan Saliba.
- A 20-year-old acting and directing student at the University of St. Joseph in Beirut, Hiba has been training with Osama for two years and refining her craft long before that. "Osama Rahbani is my idol. I have always been influenced by his music, so being part of his play is a dream come true."
