Karim

Written by James Elazzi

Set in the working-class town of Tahmoor, New South Wales, Karim is a powerful and heartfelt story about finding your voice when the world tells you to stay silent.

Karim, a young Lebanese-Australian man, and his best friend Beth are caught between family expectations and the pull of a different life. Growing up in an environment shaped by poverty, routine, and generational obligation, the two dream of something more—of escape, of possibility, of freedom.

Everything shifts when Karim discovers an oud, a traditional Middle Eastern instrument, hidden away in his late grandfather’s belongings. Through the music it inspires, he begins to reconnect with his heritage and express the emotions he’s long kept buried. But as Karim leans into this new path, the tension between who he’s expected to be and who he truly is begins to erupt.

A deeply human and emotionally resonant play, Karim explores identity, friendship, and the courage it takes to imagine a different future.

“I wanted to write a story about the things we inherit, the things we run from, and the things we finally choose for ourselves.”
— James Elazzi

“Elazzi has a rare gift for turning silence into story, and isolation into something deeply moving.”
— Theatre Travels

“Karim is quiet, tender, and strikingly real. It speaks to anyone who’s ever felt out of place in their own home.”
— Sydney Arts Guide

Critical Acclaim:

• “A dark play dealing with themes of family dysfunction, drug addiction, loneliness, and the breakdown of relationships... Elazzi can’t resist the (very) occasional comedic one-liner.”
  — Eastside Radio 89.7FM (Eastside Radio)

• “Elazzi’s ability to mine the emotional depths and drama from every situation with such clarity and coherence... always leaves an audience emotionally drained and artistically satisfied.”
  — ArtsHub Australia

Production Details:

• Premiere: July 25 – August 3, 2024, at Riverside Theatres, Parramatta

• Director: Shane Anthony

• Cast: Youssef Sabet (Karim), Jane Phegan (Kaye), Alex Malone (Beth), Andrew Cutcliffe (Joe), George Kanaan (Abdul)

Karim is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of art. It invites audiences to reflect on the complexities of identity and the courage required to forge one's own path.

Photography- Phil Erbacher

Video- Daniel Moxham