The Adventures of a Hypothetical Self

What stories do we construct around our dreams and disappointments when we decide to leave or return to our home country? How does the decision to stay or leave a place at a particular time shape the course of an entire life? In this autobiographical piece, ensemble member Yara Bou Nassar explores the story of her parents, who commuted between Paris and Beirut during the war. She reflects on the circumstances of their return to Beirut in 1981, during a fleeting “peace” that came to an abrupt end within 24 hours. In doing so, she questions the complexities of migration and the consequences of timing in decision-making. In her narrative, she intertwines her parents' earlier departure with the present reality in Beirut, incorporating collective exile, mourning and unredeemed possibilities.


Language Arabic / English / French (with German and English subtitles)
Duration 70 Minutes

With Yara Bou Nassar and Elie Youssef
Text & Director Yara Bou Nassar 
Composition Paed Conca
Drawings Karen Keyrouz 
Stage Concept & Advice Laura Knüsel
Outside Eye & Translation Hayat Erdoğan
Assistant Dramaturgy & Subtitles Sylvie Robinson

With the kind support of Afac – Südkulturfonds - L'Institut Français - l'Institut Français du Liban - la Cité internationale des arts, Warm Up, Printemps des Comédiens, L'Onda, Theater Neumarkt