11.03.2027

19.03.2027

Persians. Triumph of Empathy

Action

In this challenging theatre production directed by Chokri Ben Chikha, he explores, together with six performers, the role of empathy in the current genocidal conflict between Israel and Palestine. They do this by examining one of the oldest plays in history, ‘Persians’ by the Greek playwright Aeschylus.

'Persians' by Aeschylus is about a war between the Greeks and the Persians, in which the writer himself fought against the Persians. The central question is: did Aeschylus have empathy and understanding for his enemy, or did he mainly want to show how superior the Greeks were? By asking these questions, the performers look for connections between this ancient story and the current genocide.

The performance, based on interviews Ben Chikha conducted in Palestine and Israel in January 2024, combines words, dance and music into an engaging and moving whole. 'Persians. Triumph of Empathy' thus balances between art and reality, opportunism and empathy.

Press quotes

Karl van den Broeck, hoofdredacteur Apache.be (Belgium)
20.09.2025
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"The most radical attempt to make the audience aware of the genocide in Gaza and the complexity of the Israeli-Palestinian issue was undoubtedly ‘Persians. Triumph of Empathy’ by Chokri Ben Chikha, Action Zoo Humain & NTGent."
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De Standaard ★★★★ (Belgium)
21.06.2024
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"In Persians. Triumph of Empathy, Chokri Ben Chikha and Action Zoo Humain bring together Israelis and Palestinians to mourn, talk, play and dance. ‘The biggest challenge’ they have ‘ever tackled’ became a necessary and deliberate punch in the gut."
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NRC ★★★★★ (The Netherlands)
29.01.2025
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"Director Chokri Ben Chikha refuses to succumb to an overly simplistic message of peace."
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Süddeutsche Zeitung (Germany)
04.06.2025
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"'Persians' at Wiener Festwochen: Disruptive, dystopian, captivating."
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Knack Focus ★★★ ½ (Belgium)
25.11.2024
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"Ben Chikha chooses not to break his audience collectively and make them cry. He wants them to collectively reflect on how pointless it ultimately is to rely solely on empathy."
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Credits

Concept/directing/choreography: Chokri Ben Chikha
With and by: Hellen Boyko / Daria Titova, Sofiane El Boukhari, Liah Frank, Marah Haj Hussein / Natalie Salsà, Mareille Labohm, Moussa Ndiaye
Dramaturgy: Sietske de Vries
Text: Erik-Ward Geerlings with performers

Movement coaches: Izah Hankammer, Daisy Phillips
Film (camera & edit): Jan Beddegenoodts
Music: Jo Thielemans
Light design: Dennis Diels
Decor: Karolien De Schepper
Costume design: Chloé Wasselin-Dandre

Production management: Irina Leskovskaya
Technical production management: Patrick Martens
Stage management: Bennert Vancottem
Technical team: Geert De Rodder, Jo Thielemans, Wim Piqueur, Pieter-Jan Buelens
Surtitles: Liesbeth Standaert
Production assistent: Clara François

Photography: Kurt van der Elst
Project team: Irina Leskovskaya, Leen Van Welden (project management), Maarten Degezelle (public relations), Loubna Boukaroua, Oya Latifa (communication), Jo De Visscher (coordination costume department), Joris Soenen (coordination set design), Carl Vermeersch (artistic planning)

Realisation decor, props and costumes: NTGent

Production: Action Zoo Humain & NTGent
Coproduction: Theater Rotterdam

With support of: Stad Gent, the Flemish Government and the Tax Shelter of the Belgian Federal Government

Thanks to: Ludo De Brabander, Esmeralda Schütz, Eitan Bronstein Aparicio, Ludo Abicht, Isabelle Grynberg, Charles-Daniel Schreiber, Zouzou Ben Chikha, Jawad Musleh, Angela Godfrey, Robi Damelin, Roni Zeidan, Dani Brodsky, Moshe Zimmermann, Yael Ayalon, Amer Badan, Freddy Rokem, Munther Isaac, Rashed Khudairy, An Verelst, Sophie Samyn, Abdennacer Leblalta

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11.03.2027