Theatre review: Karim, National Theatre of Parramatta

After being nominated three times in the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards, playwright James Elazzi returns, magnificently as ever and supported by the National Theatre of Parramatta (NToP). As Western Sydney’s prime theatre company, NToP displays steady commitment to art and culture. Guided by the philosophy of ‘putting the nation on stage’, Karim (Elazzi’s directorial debut) comes to life as the latest jewel in the company’s crown. 

The play is set in Tahmoor, a small town in regional Australia, bridled with unfulfilled desire and the need to achieve. But when the play’s titular character, Karim (Youssef Sabet) and his dad, Joe (Andrew Cutcliffe), find themselves struggling and forced to stay with a reclusive neighbour (George Kanaan), a musical and cultural world emerges for Karim, by means of the oud.

This traditional instrument originating from various ancient Middle Eastern lands is the centrepiece of Karim’s character arc. Without spoiling too much, it is ultimately the oud that becomes his means to an end, a striking tribute to music’s potential. Throw heritage into the mix – an alluring Lebanese-Australian one – and you get another of Elazzi’s intersectional narratives. 

Apart from the oud and its significance for Karim and Abdul (once again too riveting to expose), other characters come to represent their inner turmoil with the unusual symbols of a beanie and a backpack.

Elazzi has a proven eye for blending the tender and humorous, and this piece also carries his flashy vignettes. His poetic touch has been witnessed in other productions including Lady Tabouli, Queen Fatima and Seeds of Gold.

It would be unkind to praise such a cohesive production without acknowledging the set and lighting elements of the piece. Set (and costume) designer James Browne and lighting designer Frankie Clarke assemble a distinctly bleak yet “country” vibe with power poles and electrical wires framing the stage. Scorched flora are placed in front of these poles, centred in mounds of dirty and rubble that remind us of the passing of time and the inevitable legacy we all leave behind.

Karim by James Elazzi
National Theatre of Parramatta
Director: James Elazzi
Director: Shane Anthony
Set and Costume Designer James Browne
Lighting Designer: Frankie Clarke
Sound Designer and Composer: Aimée Falzon
Stage Manager: Saz Watson
Intimacy Director: Trish Speers
Cast: Youssef Sabet, Jane Phegan, Andrew Cutcliffe, Alex Malone, George Kanaan

Karim will be performed until 3 August 2024.