Name: HOLD THE LIGHT - Theatre inspired by the art of the Levant region
Start: 2026-05-11T19:30:00+01:00
End: 2026-05-15T21:00:00+01:00
Location: 17 - Excelsior Studios

HOLD THE LIGHT - Theatre inspired by the art of the Levant region

A London exhibition of contemporary Levantine artists turns into a live performance environment for five nights.
About this Event

THE PERFORMANCE

For five nights 11-15 May at 1930, the exhibition comes alive when actors invade the space in a theatrical installation – ‘Hold the light’ - written and directed by Mira Awad. Audiences move through the gallery as monologue, dance and dialogue unfold among the artworks with Q&A between artists and audience at the end of the evening.

Rather than illustrating the art, the performances respond to it — turning the exhibition into a living conversation between artists, performers and audience.

Hold The Light

Written and Directed by Mira Awad

Cast:

Lola Fishbein

Helen Rose-Hampton

Adam Hasyim

Julie Yara-Atz

Costumes:

Yuliya Y Krylova

11th - 15th May

Doors 1830

Show 1930 – 2030 / Q&A 2030

A theatrical installation unfolding across three acts:

Act I – Monologue
An artist at his own exhibition confronts the uneasy distance between the studio—where art is born—and the gallery—where it is displayed.

Act II – Dance
A physical exploration of presence, absence and emotional memory.

Act III – Dialogue
A conversation between a British arts journalist and a Jordanian painter that moves between art, identity and representation.

Cast:

Lola Fishbein

Helen Rose-Hampton

Adam Hasyim

Julie Yara-Atz

Costumes:

Yuliya V Krylova

Music:

Mira Awad and Nitai Schendar

THE EXHIBITION

Vibology is a multidisciplinary arts programme bringing together contemporary visual artists from Jordan and the Levant region with a series of live performances staged inside the gallery.

Curated by Dina Dabbas Rafai, the exhibition explores identity, memory and human connection through painting, sculpture, collage and mixed media.

Featured Artists

Ahmad Turki, Hani Alqam, Leen Jamil, Tamara El Ali, Arda Aslanian, Mohammad Tamimi, Mattar Odeh, Karma Bint Abbas, Aya Adel, Hamza Jaber, Abdallah Abu Jaber, Wedad Al Nasser, Waaed Qwayder, Tony Mhanna, Juman Nimri, Zaina Al Said, Rama Al Farekh, Sondos Adas, Haya Halaw, and Jude Samman.

Dina Dabbas Rafai

“Vibology is about the emotional energy that moves between artwork and audience. We wanted to create a space where visual art isn’t static, but alive — where conversation, movement and encounter are part of the experience.”

Mira Awad

“Art comes alive only in the moment it meets its audience. A beautiful work tucked away in storage is still and silent; brought into the light, it awakens associations and stories. Each night those stories unfold differently, shaped by the people who gather to witness them. The gallery becomes a stage where vulnerability, identity, and perception are in constant motion.”