Nadia Milford's The Last Princess of Lebanon: Open Development Session
Event description
Join Nadia as she invites you to take part in the creation of her latest work, The Last Princess of Lebanon. This one-woman show delves into the life of Nadia's great grandmother, a Lebanese Princess who became an Australian migrant.
In this interactive presentation, both the audience and the creator will engage in discussions as if collaboratively developing the work together, shaping the direction of the work and witnessing new elements being crafted in real time, as Nadia explores fresh ideas inspired by your contributions.
This evening promises an atmosphere of open creativity, as Nadia invites you to experience the rich learnings of a creative process that often remain in the rehearsal room. You'll be encouraged to respond creatively to the questions posed, and afterwards, there will be an opportunity to share your fresh insights with the group in the foyer.
As a special addition, Nadia will be joined by acclaimed Lebanese musician Samira El Koussa. Together, they will explore the fusion of improvised sound and movement, creating a new language in real time.
6:30pm, Monday June 10
Queensland Multicultural Centre
102 Main Street, Kangaroo Point
Free to attend. Please register through events.humanitix.com/nadia-milford-s-the-last-princess-of-lebanon-open-development-session/tickets
The Last Princess of Lebanon delves into the life story of Princess Amira Nadia Abillama, as seen through the eyes of her great-granddaughter, Nadia Milford. This heartfelt play gently traces the princess's remarkable journey, from her upbringing within the grand palaces of Beiteddine to her sudden wedding at the age of just fifteen. It follows her migration to Australia, her struggles as a mother and wife to an abusive partner, and her eventual success as a businesswoman, carving out a life in the quiet town of Dalby, Queensland. Intertwined with our Princess’s tale is that of her great-granddaughter, who embarks on a quest to uncover the remnants of her ancestor's legacy, particularly within her own identity. Amidst the fragments left behind, she seeks to reclaim what remains, especially within the depths of her own being. This poignant narrative is but one of many personal stories that unveil the intricate tapestry of contemporary Australia—a land shaped by colonisation, immigration, patriarchy, and prejudice, yet buoyed by resilience, love, family, and community.
Nadia Milford is a performance artist who creates multidisciplinary works integrating dance, theatre, film and immersive installation. She has created and performed works for national and international audiences. Nadia’s recent dance/theatre performances include touring Phluxus2’s Angel Monster in Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Brisbane Festival, and Theatreworks in Melbourne, Opera Australia’s AIDA and Angela Chaplin’s If Only I Could at QPAC, she played Cleopatra in The Time Travel Cafe immersive theatre, and performed in Voiiid Collective’s LAMINA at the Queensland Multicultural Centre. Nadia’s own feature works include interactive dance/sculpture performance We, The Ocean with Dani Cabs for Swell Sculpture Festival as well as a series of photographic and video artworks for Lens GC. Her dance films have screened internationally: Bridge (Moving Body Festival Bulgaria) MAID (Tempo Dance Festival New Zealand), Bridging Freedom (Sankar Festival India) Passing Through Dusk (International Screendance Festival Freiburg), Return (Land Art Moving Biennial, Portugal), with award-winning home screenings Visable Knott (Phluxus2’s people’s choice), First Light (critics choice DART Short Film Festival). Nadia was recently an Artkeeper artist in residence at HOTA creating a solo work which unpacks her Lebanese family history. Her short documentary, ‘A Delicate Hope’ she created during this residency was a finalist for the Khallyrah Prize at the North Carolina State University. Drawing on a diverse blend of styles and practices, Nadia uses performance as a movement for empowerment and togetherness. She uses play and creative conversation as a vehicle for inviting new understandings of the world.