“DEADLIFT” on Tour in Sweden and Norway
Al-Harah Theater is preparing to present its physical theatre production “DEADLIFT” on tour across Sweden and Norway, from 6 November to 3 December 2026.
The tour features nine performances in six cities, continuing the production’s international journey and bringing European audiences a visual and poetic Palestinian theatre experience that transcends language barriers.
About the Performance
What happens to a person who is forced to carry more than they can bear?
“DEADLIFT” is a visual, poetic and physical theatre performance conceived and directed by Palestinian theatre-maker Bashar Murkus. It explores the limits of human endurance amid collective trauma, the burden of resistance, the power of symbols, and the tension between the image of the hero and human vulnerability.
The performance draws inspiration from “Camel of Hardships”, the iconic painting by Palestinian artist Suleiman Mansour. The painting depicts an anonymous porter carrying the city of Jerusalem on his back and has become a powerful symbol of Palestinian resilience and resistance.
In “DEADLIFT”, the porter steps out of the painting and appears as a human being of flesh and blood: exhausted, strong and vulnerable at once. Through four performers and a musician, the work explores questions that are both political and existential: What happens when a person is reduced to a symbol? Are they allowed to feel fear? Do they ever have the right to put down their burden?
A Word from the Director
“It is impossible to write a synopsis for this performance. It simply cannot be done.
I write these words as Bashar Murkus, the creator of this work, after being commissioned by Al-Harah Theater, in partnership with Boy Jonkergouw Producties and Riksteatern, with a remarkable mission: to create a theatrical piece in dialogue with the works of Palestinian painter Suleiman Mansour. I was to begin with his painting “Camel of Hardships” – a portrait of a porter carrying an entire city on his back. A painting that disappeared and Mansour had to repaint.
No sooner had I agreed to the project than the genocide committed by the Israeli occupation against Gaza erupted once again, and it continues unabated as I write these words. What city do we carry in this performance, when our cities are being erased and our souls collapse with them? How can we embody a porter who endures the burden while our people die and we stand by, merely watching?
In this visual performance, I place my outcry, my shame, my fear and my questions. What does the rubble teach us?”
Bashar Murkus
Tour Schedule
Hallunda – Botkyrka, Sweden
6 November 2026 – 19:00
Riksteaterhuset – Teater 1
7 November 2026 – 18:00
Riksteaterhuset – Teater 1
8 November 2026 – 16:00
Riksteaterhuset – Teater 1
Lund, Sweden
17 November 2026 – 19:00
Lunds Stadsteater
Avesta, Sweden
20 November 2026 – 19:00
Avesta Teater
Sandviken, Sweden
23 November 2026 – 19:00
Folkets Hus, Kulturcentrum – Teatern
Uppsala, Sweden
27 November 2026 – 19:00
Uppsala Stadsteatern – Lilla scenen
28 November 2026 – 15:00
Uppsala Stadsteatern – Lilla scenen
Oslo, Norway
3 December 2026
Riksteatret
Further details will be announced soon.
Performance Information
Duration: 90 minutes
Language: No spoken dialogue
Artistic and Production Team
Conceived, visualized and directed by: Bashar Murkus
Performers: Ehab Abed, Wajdi Khalid, Reem Talhami and Nicola Zreineh
Assistant Director: Hadeel Khatib
Scenography: Nancy Mkaabal and Bashar Murkus
Music: Wouter de Belder
Lighting Design: Bart Verzellenberg
Technical Direction and Set Production: Issam Rishmawi
Production Manager: George Matar
Financial Management: Micheal Atallah
Producers: Marina Barham and Boy Jonkergouw
Produced by: Al-Harah Theater 2025
Production Partners: Boy Jonkergouw Producties and Riksteatern
Supported by: The Arab Fund for Arts and Culture “AFAC”, the Danish House in Palestine, the Palestinian Cultural Fund and Riksteatern
For complete details and ticket booking for the performances in Sweden: https://www.riksteatern.se/forestallningar/marklyft
For updates about the performance in Oslo: To be added soon
