ASCENSION

Ascension marked the culmination of the Zarathustra: A Philosophical Performance Trilogy at Tajalla, Jabal Amman. Blending sculpture, immersive theatre, and live music under open skies, this outdoor event brought Nietzsche’s meditations on struggle, freedom, and hope to life in German, Arabic, and English

.Ascension invited audiences into a living, breathing synthesis of sculpture, sound, and language, staged in the heart of Jabal Amman’s Tajalla garden. This final chapter transformed Nietzsche’s Thus Spoke Zarathustra into an immersive outdoor ritual, where philosophical ideas became tangible through bodies, voices, and elemental forces.

As the sun set, performers and audience circled beneath the open sky, blurring the lines between earth and air, spirit and flesh. Human “sculptures” emerged from the ground, shaped by the hands of actors and musicians, embodying Nietzsche’s paradox: the higher we strive, the deeper our roots must grow. Musicians echoed these themes with trembling strings and haunting melodies, while readings in Arabic, German, and English floated on the wind, uniting the space with a universal language of longing and transformation.

Date: 19 April 2025

Venue: Tajalla, Jabal Amman

Thematic Focus

Ascension explored Nietzsche’s timeless paradox: the higher we strive, the deeper our roots dig into darkness. This performance confronted the dualities of birth and struggle, growth and adversity, by blending sculpture, language, movement, and live music. Through the collective artistry of actors, musicians, and multilingual readers, Ascension invited audiences to contemplate cycles of becoming, rootedness, and transformation under the open sky of Jabal Amman.

The Experience

The performance began as musicians Mohamad Kafena (guitar), Katherine Hreib (trumpet), and Mohammad Bitar (daff) filled the night air with a haunting rendition of Strauss’s “Also sprach Zarathustra.” On the ground, Ishaq Elias lay covered in mud, dressed in white, while Karam Yahya—in black—sculpted and pressed him further into the earth. As the music reached its peak, Ishaq’s hand stretched upward, only to be pushed back by Karam, embodying the struggle of birth into a challenging world.

As the readings began in Arabic (Amr Attieh), German (Min-Dju Jansen), and English (Raina Lee), Ishaq emerged slowly from the mud—walking heavily, unsteady, like a newborn taking first steps. Moving amongst the audience, he was seized again by Karam, who transformed him into the symbolic tree of Zarathustra by layering mud over him. In the climactic finale, Ishaq, arms raised, became a living sculpture. Karam returned with an axe, delivering a dramatic swing—closing the cycle of life and death in a powerful visual metaphor.

Symbolism and Interpretation

The interplay between Ishaq Elias and Karam Yahya brought to life Nietzsche’s reflection:

“It’s the same with people as with trees: the more a person reaches for the heights and the light, the deeper their roots must grow into the dark, into what we call evil.”

Mud became a symbol of both burden and possibility, with each layer representing origin, struggle, and the raw material for transformation. The axe in the final act underscored the inevitable dance between creation and destruction—yin and yang—reminding the audience that each act of becoming carries both risk and renewal. Stage and technical support by Mustafa Al Abdali, Yousef Al Haj, and Ammar Obedat ensured the setting magnified every gesture and transformation. Ahmad Shehadeh (videography) and Ahmad Zaki (photography) captured these moments for lasting reflection.

The Birth

The Struggle

The Metamorphoses

"Truly, into the dark and deep!" cried the youth. "How is it possible that you have discovered my soul?

Music & Sound Design

Live music was central to the experience, with Mohamad Kafena, Katherine Hreib, and Mohammad Bitar weaving together trumpet, guitar, and daff to set an emotional and ritualistic tone. Their performance mirrored the performance’s arc, guiding the audience from tension to catharsis. Amjad Bashiti (sound engineer) and Sufian Alssaid (technical audio engineer) crafted a seamless soundscape, allowing the readings and music to blend with the natural sounds of the outdoor setting and envelop the audience in every moment.

Ascension brought the Zarathustra trilogy to a close beneath the stars, fusing sculpture, theatre, and music into an elemental, communal ritual. The creative synergy of readers, actors, musicians, and crew transformed Nietzsche’s philosophy into a living, shared experience. As the performance ended, the question lingered in the night: in the cycles of growth and transformation, will you rise or remain rooted?

Full Performance

Concept & Direction : Zaid AlshurbajiMusic: Mohamad Kafena , Katherine Hreib , Mohammad BitarReaders & Script Revision : , Amr Attieh - Arabic , Min-Dju Jansen - German , Raina Lee - EnglishActors: Ishaq Elias, Karam YahyaSound Engineer: Amjad Bashiti
Technical Audio Engineer: Sufian AlssaidStage & Technical Support: Mustafa Al Abdali , Yousef Al Haj, Ammar ObedatCatering: Lama ShehabVideography & Editing: Ahmad ShehadehPhotography : Ahmad Zaki - Ahmad ShehadehVenue: Tajalla

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