karim
‘This play is not simply a work of fiction. It is a cultural document, a mirror held up to a nation still learning how to see itself fully.’ — Joanne Kee
To succeed in life is to be good with one’s hands. For Joe, that means turning scrap into treasure. For Karim, that means learning the strings of his neighbour Abdul’s oud.
In the rural town of Tahmoor, Joe and Karim—father and son—farm Lebanese cucumbers on borrowed land. Both born in Australia and unmoored from their family’s ancestral roots in Lebanon, Joe is satisfied with his lot, while Karim yearns for something more. When father and son are suddenly evicted, Abdul offers them shelter—and an unexpected path back to their heritage.
As Abdul teaches Karim the oud, their music stirs something deeper: a longing for connection, identity, and a world beyond the stillness of Tahmoor.
‘Elazzi has a proven eye for blending the tender and humorous’ — ArtsHub
‘James Elazzi’s work embodies the intersection of Queer identity, migration and culture in a way that is both urgent and timeless.’ — Qtopia
Lady Tabouli / Queen Fatima
SHORTLISTED FOR THE NICK ENRIGHT PLAYWRIGHTING PRIZE
Lady Tabouli
On the day of his nephew’s baptism, Danny—newly single and living back home with his devout Lebanese mother—is thrown into a whirlwind of tradition, expectations, and family pride. But as the pressure mounts and secrets begin to surface, Danny is forced to confront the truth about himself and those closest to him.
A sharp, heartfelt exploration of family, identity, and the courage it takes to be seen.
Premiered: Griffin Theatre Company, May 2019
Queen Fatima
Approaching 31 and under pressure from her family to marry, Fatima decides to prove her worth—not just to them, but to her secretive boyfriend Karim and his disapproving parents—by entering the Queen Lebanon Australia pageant. With the help of her 74-year-old best friend and a few coffee cup readings, Fatima sets out on a journey of transformation she never expected.
A feel-good comedy about love, belonging, and redefining what it means to be "enough."
Premiered: National Theatre of Parramatta & Sydney Festival, January 2021
ISBN: 978-1-922424-99-0
Available in hardcopy.
Son of Byblos by James Elazzi
SHORTLISTED FOR THE NICK ENRIGHT PLAYWRIGHTING PRIZE
Synopsis
Adam has everything in control: casual sex, parents he can manipulate, and his cousin Claire, the one person who knows the real him. But when Claire returns from Lebanon suddenly engaged to a man she barely knows, Adam’s carefully constructed world begins to unravel. Desire loses its thrill, his parents start asking difficult questions, and Adam finds himself spiraling.
Shortlisted for the 2023 NSW Premier’s Literary Awards, Son of Byblos was praised by judges for bringing a familiar story into an underrepresented Lebanese-Australian context, calling it "rich in surprise and suspense" with "detailed worlds, from the story-laden dining table of an inner-city family to anonymous sex."
This cross-cultural comic drama explores the complexities of queer identity within a conservative Lebanese-Australian family. Elazzi offers an intimate portrayal of what it means to be a minority within a minority.
Production History
Premiered at Belvoir St Theatre 25A
Season: May 4–21, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-922424-70-9