Petra Rocks
The Musical Petra Rocks was premiered in Amman – Jordan under the Patronage of His Majesty king Abdullah II in October 2009.
The King Hussein Foundation -
The National Centre for Culture and The Performing Arts
Presents
Petra Rocks
A National Theatre Musical Production From Jordan
The musical performed its debut run for a week, in Amman, Jordan in Nov 2009 to a sold out theatre, including many members of the Jordanian government and Royal Family. Petra Rocks is the culmination of the experiences, talents and achievements of many distinguished Jordanian artists in the performing arts field including music composition, singing, acting, dancing, choreography and directing. These elements are intricately joined together to depict the life of the Arabian Nabateans. This musical highlights the Nabateans' way of life which made them a unique civilization that survived for almost 3000 years.
The story tells of the unique relationship between the King and his people, the desperate quest and strategic control of water in the desert, and the Nabatean civilization's determination and unshakeable will to protect Petra against the invasion of several empires. The musical takes you on a journey of adventure, love, sacrifice and bravery through the story of compelling characters ; the King, the Queen ,the Princess , the mysterious Chiseler, the wayward Nabatean traveller, and the Goddess MANAT of good fortune and protector of cities and families. Petra Rocks is bathed in an outstanding soundtrack which is a mixture of traditional Middle-Eastern instruments, tonal flavours and rhythms , infused with modern rock and orchestral textures. Song lyrics are in Arabic and the whole atmosphere lets you believe you are traveling through time from the ancient to the modern in the mystical Red Rose City of the Jordanian desert. The cast comprises of several famous jordanian actors and singers along with the GAM Folklore group, Misk Dance troupe and the Syrian Emar dance troupe. Petra Rocks will be commencing it's debut world tour in January 2011. For more information, costs and tour details, please contact us.
Petra Rocks - Synopsis
The story begins as we are led into the Red Rose City of Petra by the mysterious and ancient Chiseler... the various characters of our play appear in a song about the Arabian Nabateans.. who will lead us through a magical journey of love, sacrifice, triumph, and re-awakening.
It is the height of the Nabatean civilization. The Kingdom of Petra is flourishing and has accumulated great wealth through the control of trade routes and caravans in the Jordanian desert. Ruled by a compassionate and benevolent King, the Nabateans enjoy a life of prosperity, equality, and security.
Yet Petra is under threat... due to the city’s location in the mystical red rose rocks and canyons of the Jordanian desert, there is a shortage of water which threatens to create drought and upheaval during a time when Petra’s growth and prosperous wealth is at it’s most vulnerable. Neighboring empires are competing for Petra’s wealth and strategic control over the desert’s trade routes. The access and control of water is now more crucial than ever in order to insure Petra’s survival and ability to defend herself.
A distant Nabatean traveller by the name of Saleh arrives in Petra’s market where he meets a young village girl about to be wed during the Celebration of the Harvest and Fertility. She explains that there may not be a celebration this year due to the threat of drought and that despite the great prosperity and equality that the citizens of Petra enjoy with their King, there is an anxious need for a solution to the water shortage.
The traveller reveals to Jameela - the village girl, that through his many years of travel he has learnt the science and art of water engineering. He asks if it is possible to be granted an audience with the King at the Royal Court.
In the Palace a young Princess wakes up form a mysterious dream. She explains to her mother the Queen that she has had strange visions of Petra and she fears for the future..as her mother begins to console her, the crowds are gathering out in the desert where the King has come to inspect the great caravans before their departure to the farthest corners of the world. It is a joyous occasion and the Princess and Queen rush to the desert to be with the King and the people during the farewell.
Back in the King’s court three suitors have arrived from neighboring empires and are competing for the Princess’ hand in marriage... and more importantly, access to Petra’s wealth. Well aware of this, the Princess outsmarts and graciously refuses the temptations and advances offered from these powerful and ambitious men. Humiliated and insulted, they leave the Royal Court vowing to take revenge on Petra and it’s people.
Still troubled by her dreams, the Princess goes to the Great Temple to perform an ancient ritual to summon the Goddess Manat. As Manat appears, the Princess looks to answers for her questions.. what do these dreams represent? ... will she ever marry? and what does the future hold for Petra and it’s people? Manat is enigmatic and explains to the Princess that in order to find the answers to these questions, she must travel on her own personal journey of human experience, discovery, and growth.
Back in the center of the city.. in the twilight hours of the desert, Saleh is attempting in vain to apply his knowledge and build aqueducts that can access the water buried deep inside the whispering rocks and canyons of Petra. As time passes his frustration builds. On the verge of giving up... he hears the mysterious and ancient call of the Chiseler. As the Chiseler approaches Saleh, he reveals his ancient art of manipulating stone and how this great and mysterious art helped to build the greatest city in the desert. He begins to show Saleh his technique and in turn, Saleh share’s his knowledge of the advanced science of water engineering. As they work together all through the night into the coming dawn... Jameela, the village girl sees them. Exhausted yet determined, they vow not to rest until they have raised the water form the depth of the stone. Jameela summons the people of Petra and as they all gather, they participate in the building and creation of Petra's first aqueducts... the life line to her future. Finally, the water is extracted and all rejoice.
As the crowds clear, we are left with Saleh and the Princess. In awe of Saleh, the Princess approaches him only to find out that they were childhood friends and that he has returned to his home and to his first only true love. They sing a love duet and it is here where she decides to travel the world and experience adventure and a new life with Saleh. Is this the journey Manat is referring to?
We return to a secret meeting place in the outreaches of the desert. Three conspirators - the suitors who were exposed and embarrassed at the King’s Court are preparing to join forces and attack Petra. They rap on the impending doom and suffering that they will inflict on Petra and it’s people.
A new day has dawned and the King, Queen, and the citizens of Petra have all descended upon the open desert to celebrate the day of Harvest and Fertility and to attend Jameela’s wedding. The Princess has decided to stay behind and care for those in need who are too week or sick to venture out into the open desert. With a renewed hope for the future, the celebrations begin and a carnival atmosphere continues until the early hours of the morning.
As the celebration reaches it’s peak... we are suddenly interrupted by screams of fear and horror... the attack on Petra has begun and the armies of the conspirators have invaded . The citizens rush back hastily in a panic to try to defend the city before all is lost. As the battle rages on, one of the conspirators storms into the Princess’ chambers and snatches her away, in an attempt to kidnap her for ransom. At the very last minute... she is rescued by Saleh and the conspirator is killed. The rest of the people of Petra have arrived and the battle continues... finally... the Nabatenas claim victory over the invaders.
However this victory has come at a cost and now the Princess must face her demons and question whether she has been the cause of this great tragedy. She sings a lamentation as she is consoled by Saleh. The King, Queen, and Chiseler join in to try to give her strength... she must now look inwards and confront her greatest fears and answer her deepest questions... it is a time of reckoning and her ultimate test.
As she falls into a daze of confusion and anguish, she suddenly remembers the days of the caravans, the building of the aqueducts by all of the citizens, and the ultimate sacrifices the people of Petra have made. Now she too must sacrifice her dreams of a new found freedom and adventure... she must leave Saleh - her new found love and return to her first true love... Petra, where she must help to rebuild and reawaken the glorious Red Rose city. The Princess sadly bids Saleh farewell and ascends to the Great Temple.. where she vows before all and the Goddess Manat to sacrifice the rest of her life for Petra.