Jeanne and Simon are led by their mother’s enigmatic last wish to the Middle East, where the two young people seek their true identity. The journey turns into an adventure that brings them into contact with key figures who gradually shed light on the mystery. At the same time, it returns them to the past that marked the life of their mother, Nawal, and the horror, absurdity and traumatic consequences of civil war. Step by step, their journey reveals a terrible truth that scarred their mother’s life and their own, leading to a discovery of their identity that is both painful and liberating.

The multi-award winning Lebanese-Canadian playwright Wajdi Mouawad, known in Greece for Thirsty and Women, has been inspired by the myth of Oedipus and the harsh history of endless conflict in the Middle East to write a superb modern play that begins as a thriller but proves to be deeply political. Harnessing a unique cast of actors, director Konstantinos Arvanitakis meets the challenge not only of a great work but also of a production that will be performed with audience and performers together “On stage”, inaugurating a new theatrical venture for the Greek National Theatre.