Is it still far? – Louai Hashem

Is it still far? is a theatrical meditation on change, loss, and the stubborn act of holding on to faith – in yourself, in the future. A monologue about time, distance, and the pursuit of a goal. A goal that shifts shape, moves, or disappears along the way, until the ground beneath your feet turns soft. And yet, there is belief – belief that even on soft ground, one can dance, one can laugh.

n November 2022, an early version of this work, then titled IT’S (NEVER) FUCKED UP, was presented at WIPCOOP in Arenberg as a collective performance by three young makers: Louai Hashem, Saif Salloomi, and Mustafa Aldoujaily. Rooted in personal stories of migration, resilience, and survival, the performance was met with enthusiastic response. Two months later, Louai and Saif were awarded the Antwerp Bijou Prize for their work in progress. Plans to fully develop and stage the piece in 2023 were in place – but life, as it does, took unexpected turns.

Now, two years later, Louai Hashem returns to the project – this time solo. Using the original material and the memories of that time as a point of departure, he revisits the work to explore what it still means today. Where was he then? And how does he see it now – as a person, as an artist? What began as a collective creation has transformed into a solo, with new material and new collaborators.

Text and play: Louai Hashem – Coaching: Amara Reta, Rashif El Kaoui. – With the support of WIPCOOP/MESTIZO ARTS PLATFORM, The Fund for Talent Development City of Antwerp, Fameus, HETPALEIS, Arenberg, Schouwburg Noord, wpZimmer, c o r s o