The Upside Down Man

Shubbak is the UK’s premier festival of contemporary Arab culture, presenting outstanding international Arab artists to audiences in London and across England. Taking place from 28 June – 14 July 2019 in venues across London, Shubbak provides an opportunity to engage with arts and culture from across the Arab world.

Mohamed Toukabri’s autobiographical solo delves deeply into the experience of a young man finding himself in dance and in Europe.

From discovering street dance as a 12-year old in front of the railway station in Tunis to his 10 years of performing with renowned companies like Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, and Jan Lauwers, his movements and reflections resonate with sharp insight to explore a personal yet universal migrant experience.

Subtle video projections from his family home, stories of casual racism and subtly humoured observations blend into a richly textured experience of being in-between two countries, two cultures, two traditions. With thoughtful reflection as well as a candid irony, he takes us to what he calls ‘the splendour of this mysterious zone‘.