Perzen. Triomf van Empathie

In this challenging theatre production directed by Chokri Ben Chikha, he explores, together with six performers, the role of empathy in the current genocidal conflict between Israel and Palestine. They do this by examining one of the oldest plays in history, ‘Persians’ by the Greek playwright Aeschylus.'Persians' by Aeschylus is about a war between the Greeks and the Persians, in which the writer himself fought against the Persians. The central question is: did Aeschylus have empathy and understanding for his enemy, or did he mainly want to show how superior the Greeks were? By asking these questions, the performers look for connections between this ancient story and the current genocide.The performance, based on interviews Ben Chikha conducted in Palestine and Israel in January 2024, combines words, dance and music into an engaging and moving whole. 'Persians. Triumph of Empathy' thus balances between art and reality, opportunism and empathy.