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Western Terrace: Animating the Arab Archive in Burramatta
Join us for a night of stories through time as Alissar Chidiac brings together people and material from two creative productions made in Burramatta on Dharug Land at the turn of this century.
1999: Gibran Khalil Gibran, Taqa Theatre’s last performance of their decade’s work, within the burned ruins of St Patrick's Cathedral.
2001-2002: Jirrin Journey, community collaborations, storytelling and art making from tangible objects through to aural memory.
How do we bring ‘the archive’ to life? Nadyat El Gawley and Nikolai Haddad, Alissar Gazal and Paula Abood, revisit past productions, sharing reimagined fragments of live performance and critically reflecting on what the work means now in another moment of Catastrophe.
This is an opportunity to learn of local Arab cultural production that came before now - with rare documentation and conversation, sharing reliable and unreliable collective memories.
Afterwards, gather with us on the terrace for light refreshments as the sun sets.
Curated by Alissar Chidiac
When: Wednesday 3 December, 6pm - 8pm
Location: Level 3, Western Terrace
Registration: Spaces are limited with some seats and standing room. Registration is essential As this is an outdoor venue, please dress accordingly. For access requirements please contact PHIVEtickets@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au
Photos by Alissar Chidiac from the Gibran Khalil Gibran production 1999
Credit: Courtesy of Alissar Chidiac Archive 2025
Images of Alissar Chidiac, Alissar Gazal and Paula Abood: from Taqa Theatre's 'Gibran Khalil Gibran' program 1999
Images of Nadyat El Gawley and Nikolai Haddad : by Marian Abboud, from Information and Cultural Exchange (now ACE) 'Jirrin Journey' photos 2001-2002
Meet the Creatives
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ANIMATING THE ARAB ARCHIVE IN BURRAMATTA, 2025, Curator of the event at PHIVE
‘Jirrin Journey’ 2002 : wattan project, Powerhouse Museum
‘Gibran Khalil Gibran’ by TAQA Theatre 1999 : Original text, Performer
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‘Jirrin Journey’ 2002 : Sound Artist
“Sound and radio have been constant companions in my life. From falling asleep to the sound of the radio as a baby, to being serenaded by the sound of trains nearby. Each memory is charged with meaning.” 2025
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‘Jirrin Journey’ 2002 : Jirrin loan for the exhibition from the Haddad family, Salam and Louis Haddad.
“The Jirrin is made of limestone from Lebanon. Ingrained with the rhythm of the homeland. Brought across oceans and continents as an unshakeable connection to village life and identity. As multiculturalism and diversity is under increasing attack, animating these stories is crucial to counter the emboldened and resurgent racism at the heart of settler colonial Australia." 2025
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‘Gibran Khalil Gibran’ by TAQA Theatre 1999 : Original text, Performer
‘Jirrin Journey’ 2002 : Artist team, Percussionist
“Although it has been 26 years since the Gibran Khalil Gibran production, its relevance to local and international issues is still important. In many ways some of the issues we covered like migration, belonging, yearning for the homeland are prevalent in my mind and heart. As a migrant I always feel displaced, disconnected and sometimes ripped apart and it feels like we can perform this play in 2025 and it will still resonate as strongly now as it did in 1999.” 2025
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‘Gibran Khalil Gibran’ by TAQA Theatre 1999 : Original text, Text arrangement, Co-director
‘Jirrin Journey’ 2002 : Jirrin loan for the exhibition from the Abood family, Johra Abood.
“Reflecting on Gibran Khalil Gibran in this moment of genocide reminds me that the seed of every creative intervention we have undertaken as individuals and as artists committed to political justice is an event that has shattered us, enraged us, grieved us, impelled us to act collectively through the language of art. This moment calls on us to remember that we create for a purpose and that our work matters across time and space.”
Film and audio documentation courtesy of the archives of:
- Fadia Abboud: ‘Jirrin Journey’
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Khaled Sabsabi: ‘Gibran Khalil Gibran’
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JIRRIN JOURNEY (2002)
Project Managers: Alissar Chidiac
(wattan project, Powerhouse Museum),
Lena Nahlous (Information & Cultural
Exchange)Project Partners: Gay Hendriksen,
Peter Scrivener (Parramatta Heritage Centre)Artist Team: Fadia Abboud (video artist),
Marian Abboud (photographer), Nadya Stani
(sound artist), Tarek Sawires (percussionist),
Ismail Abdi (percussionist), Alissar Gazal
(percussionist)Jirrin Loans: Johra Abood, Salam and Louis
Haddad, Joseph Isaac, Dianne and Tony
Malek, Linda Tartak, Amira and Tony WehbeKibbeh Makers for Kibbeh Day: Badra Abi
Arrage, Marie Awad, Khadije Sukkarieh,
Linda TartakGIBRAN KHALIL GIBRAN (1999)
Original Text: Alissar Chidiac, Alissar Gazal,
Elizabeth Jabour, Paula AboodText Arrangement: Paula Abood
Directors: Barry Gamba and Paula Abood
Dramaturg: Barry Gamba
Performers: Alissar Chidiac, Alissar Gazal,
Ismail Abdi, Elizabeth JabourVoice: Saleh Saqqaf
Sound Artist: Khaled Sabsabi
Administrator / Publicist: Mouna Zaylah
Production Manager: Karl Johnson
Technical Crew: Dave Williams
Graphics: Jim Paton
Lighting and Set Design: Karl Johnson and
TAQA TheatreProduction Assistant: Sahar Ekermawi
Costumes: TAQA Theatre
Photography: Ernie Polley
Translation: Saleh Saqqaf
Slides: Elizabeth Jabour, Barry Gamba,
Jim PatonImages: Gibran Khalil Gibran, Robert Fisk,
other sources.
The Western Terrace is a series of creative gatherings, performances and workshops taking place underneath the golden hour, as the sun sets, facing West, thinking West. Imagining the Western Terrace as an extension of their own homes, gardens and balconies, the series features artists, authors, filmmakers, musicians and community sharing domestic ritual collectively.