Egyptian Jewish story hits the stage in Sydney
One of a Kind brings the little-known history of Jewish refugees expelled from Arab lands to life through music, theatre and lived stories.
A new Australian musical exploring the little-known history of Jewish refugees expelled from Egypt is set to premiere at the inaugural Festival of the Spoken Word in Sydney next month.
One of a Kind, a semi-staged, one-act musical, follows the Rossano family, a wealthy Egyptian Jewish family forced to leave everything behind in 1957 and rebuild their lives in Sydney. Blending Middle Eastern musical traditions with contemporary musical theatre, the work explores themes of identity, migration, resilience and belonging.
Presented by Jewish Arts as part of Shalom Collective’s month-long celebration of Jewish storytelling, the musical will be staged for two performances.
Co-written and co-directed by Judy Campbell and Aaron Robuck, One of a Kind has been more than a decade in development. The work was shaped by extensive research undertaken with the support of the Jewish Arts team, members of Sydney’s Egyptian Jewish community, and Racheline Barda, author of Egyptian-Jewish Emigrés to Australia. Inspired by the lived experiences of Jewish refugees forced to flee Egypt in the 1950s, the musical brings to the Australian stage an emotional story that has never been told through musical theatre.
Campbell said the show aims to raise awareness about the expulsion of Jews from Arab lands, a chapter of history that has rarely been explored on stage.
“Historically, there has been so little presented dramatically about the lived experiences of people in those times and circumstances. The initial inspiration came from someone bringing their family story to us. Much research and consultation with more Egyptian Jews fleshed out a story that represents, we’ve discovered, a great many migrants to Australia.
“One of a Kind tells a story that deserves to be heard, not only because it reflects a remarkable chapter in Jewish history, but because it speaks to universal experiences of losing home, rebuilding identity and finding hope in a new country. We believe audiences will leave moved by the humanity of these characters and the resilience of communities who begin again.”
The production stars Sebastian “Bash” Nelson, Sarah Davies, Sara Camara, Blake Erickson and Robuck, and features live musicians performing a richly textured score inspired by the sounds and musical traditions of the Middle East alongside contemporary musical theatre.
One of a Kind forms part of the Festival of the Spoken Word, the new evolution of the Sydney Jewish Writers Festival, which runs across August and brings together theatre, music, poetry, comedy and conversation to celebrate Jewish stories told live.
One of a Kind is on August 2. For tickets: shalomcollective.com.au/whats-on/festival-of-the-spoken-word