Ruins / أطلال

By Emily Ayoub & Madeline Baghurst

2 — 5 Dec 2026

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ABOUT

Ruins: A powerful story of displacement, memory and the search for home.

Ruins is a powerful and visually striking work created by Clockfire Theatre Company and produced by Rare Earth Creative that explores grief, migration, memory and the search for home. Following Amelia Alissa’s journey to Lebanon after the death of her father, the work weaves together personal and intergenerational stories to examine identity, belonging and cultural inheritance. Combining ensemble physical theatre, live music and bold visual storytelling, RUINS centres an Arab and Lebanese diaspora experience rarely seen on Australian stages.

NTofP is presenting this work as part of Heartland Festival 2026 because it amplifies underrepresented voices, reflects the cultural diversity of Western Sydney, and exemplifies the bold, ambitious theatre-making that sits at the heart of our artistic vision. Bringing Ruins to Western Sydney matters because it creates space for local Arab communities to see their stories reflected on stage, while offering all audiences a way into a story about family, culture, loss and belonging.

Presented as part of National Theatre of Parramatta’s Heartland Festival 2026

Performances:

Wednesday 2 December at 7pm
Thursday 3 December at 11am – EDUCATION & GP
Thursday 3 December at 7pm
Friday 4 December at 7pm
Saturday 5 December at 7pm

Venue:

The venue for this event is at PHIVE, 5 Parramatta Square.
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CAST & CREATIVES

CREATIVES

Co-Devised By: Emily Ayoub & Madeline Baghurst
Director: Emily Ayoub
Script Consultant: Dr Michael Mohammad Ahmed
Ensemble Collaborator: Mitch Riley

CAST

Performer: Randa Sayed
Performer: Youssef Sabet
Performer: Adeeb Razzouk
Performer: Tony Poli
Performer: Piumi Wijesundara
Performer: Madeline Baghurst
Voice of Julia: Olive Magee
Musician: Gianna Cheung
Musician: Jessica Scott

DESIGN

Set & Costume Designer: Cris Baldwin
Lighting Designer: Frankie Clarke
Composer & Sound Designer: Johnny Yang
Video Designer: Laura Turner
Associate Video Designer: Finlay Hogan
Video Supervisor: Thomas Bensley

PRODUCTION

Stage Manager: Dylan Ford
Photographer: Geoff Magee

PRODUCED BY

Clockfire Theatre Company & Rare Earth Creative

REVIEWS

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “A stunningly realised masterpiece of movement… one of the most important and relevant pieces to come to life in the current Australian theatre landscape.” – What’s the Show

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Rich in mythical symbolism in mirrors and gods, with a stage that whirls bodies and objects through a phantasmagoria of intergenerational turbulence and ethnic violence…” – Sydney Morning Herald

“Ruins combines emotive storytelling and polished theatrical imagery to engage with difficult and sensitive subject matter.” – TimeOut Sydney

EDUCATION BOOKINGS

Education Performance:

Thursday 3 December at 11am

POST SHOW Q&A

There will be a Q&A with the cast after all Education Performances

EDUCATION TICKETS & PRICING

$25 ea
1 teacher free for every 20 students booked


SUITABLE FOR YEAR 9-12 (Stages 5-6)

Online Education Bookings
1 teacher free for every 20 students booked.

To reserve/pay for your booking, select the ‘Education Bookings‘ button and confirm the number of tickets, prices and contact details.

For more details about How to Book, Excursion & Accessibility For Education