Electrifying tale of Palestinian poet not to be missed

The “Big World, Up Close” series at Melbourne’s Arts Centre showcases intimate theatre from all over the globe, and this season kicks off with a piercing tour de force from Palestinian actor Amer Hlehel.

Taha tells the story of celebrated Palestinian poet Taha Muhammad Ali, weaving biography and poetry into a vital, humorous and moving account that embeds the political in the personal.

Through his subject, Hlehel puts a human face on Palestinian dispossession, suffering and flight, and embodies his people’s resilience and zest for life. It’s compulsory viewing for anyone who’s a bit vague on the troubled history of Palestine, or indeed anyone who loves poetry. But beyond its instructive quality and moral purpose, it’s a joy to watch acting of such skill and sustained emotional intensity.

Read the review by Cameron Woodhead in The Sydney Morning Herald.