THE MAGIC BULLET follows an ensemble of seven contemporary artists as they tell the story of a French colonial magic show that took place at Algiers’ Bab-Azoun Theatre in 1856. The project is inspired by historical accounts of the marabouts—Sufi leaders who animated Algeria’s revolt against French colonial rule—and French stage magician Robert-Houdin, who crossed the Mediterranean to prove the “superiority” of European conjuring. Drawing contemporary parallels and weaving archival sources, ritual, original writing, stage magic, and documentary filmmaking, THE MAGIC BULLET offers an uncanny confrontation between the power of illusion and the illusions of power.
THE MAGIC BULLET is created by LubDub Theatre Co with Caitlin Cassidy, Robert Duffley, Noelle Ghoussaini, Pierre Jampy, Geoff Kanick, Ismail Khalidi, and Mohamed Yabdri. The project is co-commissioned by Pangea World Theatre in partnership with the Arab American National Museum, Noor Theatre, and National Performance Network.
Land Acknowledgement: LubDub Theatre Co honors the Munsee Lenape Peoples: The first inhabitants and caretakers of the unceded land of present day New York City, where many of our artists live and work. We acknowledge the Lenape People’s painful history of genocide and forced removal. We honor their ancestors, and we pay our respects to their continued present and emerging presence. LubDub is committed to ongoing programs and actions that embody a commitment to indigenous rights, cultural equity, and respect for the earth. To locate yourself and learn more about the native communities in your area, visit: USDAC’s Honor Native Land Guide and native-lands.ca.
