Israel Galván and Mohamed El Khatib explore fathers and freedom.
A Spaniard and a Frenchman. One’s a famous flamenco dancer, the other a celebrated theatre and documentary maker. A Jehovah’s Witness alongside a practising Muslim. Israel and Mohamed, pleased to meet you. What happens when two artists merge their names and explore each other’s worlds? In Israel & Mohamed, a hit at the Festival d’Avignon, Israel Galván and Mohamed El Khatib search for their common ground.
Galván brings his unconventional, experimental flamenco style. El Khatib draws on his documentary theatre practise. Together, they delve into memories of their upbringing, family archives, and the expectations they grew up with. At the heart of it is their relationship with their fathers - two imposing figures who both guided and challenged them.
In their quest for the freedom to chart their own path, the creators examine how tradition, family, and identity continue to interact. Humour proves to be a soothing balm for a thorny inner conflict. Because how do you become an artist when your community envisioned a different future for you? And how do you find your own voice?
Alternating between the light-hearted and the profound, the performance dissects a patriarchal worldview and reveals what it takes to choose your own way forward.