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Oum – A Son’s Quest for His Mother

UK Premiere of Bushra El-Turk's music theatre work

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A photo of a singer on stage, with an orchestral ensemble in the background. Semi staged production of Bushra El-Turk's Oum - A Son's Quest for his Mother

Bushra El-Turk's Oum - A Son's Quest for his Mother c. Bart Grietens

We are proud to present the UK premiere of Bushra El-Turk’s latest music theatre work, featuring star singers Ghalia Benali, Dima Orsho and Bernadeta Astari.

The 19-year-old Wahab struggles through a nighttime snowstorm on his way to the hospital where his mother lies dying. This is his last chance to untangle the knot of his relationship with her. Deep in his heart, Wahab carries the song Al-Atlal (“The Ruins”) by the Egyptian singer Oum Kalthoum. The song embodies the sorrow of a lost home, the longing for love, and ultimately the promise of reconciliation amidst the fragments of a broken relationship.

Following the success of A Woman at Point Zero, Bushra El-Turk presents her latest music theatre piece.

Tagged with: Classical music Young Barbican Barbican Presents More...

Please note: this performance contains explicit descriptions of war violence.
 

Oum – A Son’s Quest for His Mother is a collaboration between Dutch National Opera, Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest and Meervaart, Amsterdam. Based on the play Un obus dans le couer and excerpts of the novel Visage retrouvé by Wajdi Mouawad. English translation by Linda Gaboriau.

Spoken in English, sung in Arabic.

Programme

  • Bushra El-Turk and Kenza Koutchoukali   Oum – A Son’s Quest for His Mother

Performers

  • Nadia Amin   actor
  • Ghalia Benali   contralto
  • Dima Orsho   mezzo-soprano
  • Bernadeta Astari   soprano
  • Bushra El-Turk   composition
  • Wout Van Tongeren   text adaptation
  • Kanako Abe   musical direction
  • Kenza Koutchoukali   stage director
  • Yannick Verweij   set designer
  • Hannah Sibai   costume designer
  • Yuri Schreuders   lighting designer
  • Wout Van Tongeren   dramaturgy
  • Roshanak Morrowatian   choreography
  • Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra  
  • Elias El Houssaini   Musical project leader & director for Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra

Ticket prices

Standard
From £20 *
* Excludes £4 booking fee

Booking fees

£4 booking fee per online/phone transaction. 

No fee when tickets are booked in person.

Booking fees are per transaction and not per ticket. If your booking contains several events the highest booking fee will apply. The booking fee may be reduced on certain events. Members do not pay booking fees.

Watch the trailer

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