New Dutch play «Gharib» honors Moroccan WWII soldiers

In the Netherlands, the new play Gharib by Mahfoud Mokaddem and Marcos Valster Da Costa Ferreira pays tribute to Moroccan soldiers who died in World War II. Inspired by real-life individuals, the production retraces the story of two soldiers who perished at sea eighty years ago. Their bodies eventually washed ashore in the south of the Netherlands and were laid to rest in the French military cemetery in Kapelle. In September 2023, the two creators visited the site and saw the soldiers' graves for the first time.

Longtime friends, Mokaddem and Ferreira met at a youth theater school in Dordrecht before attending the Tilburg Academy. When they came across the Moroccan graves in Kapelle, they immediately felt compelled to share this overlooked chapter of history. «This is why we do theater. We want to give a voice and a face to the voiceless», Marcos told Omroep Zeeland.

In Gharib, the two actors engage in a dialogue that weaves together the story of the Moroccan soldiers with reflections on both the past and contemporary issues. For Mahfoud Mokaddem, the goal is to offer audiences a new perspective on this part of world history. «If you look at the political climate in the Netherlands, where minorities, Muslims, and Moroccans are often the subject of debate, I think this story can add depth and foster connection», he explained.

The production was created for Theater Na de Dam in collaboration with Theaterproductiehuis Zeeland. Held annually around National Remembrance Day on May 4, the event features dozens of theatrical performances across the country to honor the memory of World War II.