The Last Princess of Lebanon

The Last Princess of Lebanon is a powerful one-woman show that traces the extraordinary journey of Amira (Princess) Nadia Abillama of Lebanon who migrated from the palaces of Beiteddine to a humble Queenslander in the small town of Dalby, told by her great-granddaughter Nadia Milford from intimately conducted research and with a script of her own writing.

As young Nadia embarks on her own journey into womanhood, she begins to realise that the challenges her great-grandmother faced are not distant echoes, but are alive within her. In confronting these parallels, she discovers that her inheritance is not only one of bloodline but of emotional resilience, and that her path is not just about embracing a family legacy, but about questioning, redefining, and ultimately transforming it.

Set against a captivating soundscape of traditional Lebanese music and contemporary tracks, with sound design by Anna Whitaker, sets by Penny Challen and directed by Leah Shelton, The Last Princess of Lebanon is a deeply physical piece that seamlessly blends dance and theatre, forging a hybrid format that moves fluidly between these disciplines.

At its heart, The Last Princess of Lebanon is a deeply personal yet universal story—a testament to the enduring power of heritage and the strength of women to write their own stories.

Initiated by HOTA’s ArtKeeper Artist Residency in 2023, the project has since received support from Gold Coast City Council’s RADF Quick Grants and Activate Arts Fund, Western Downs Regional Council, BEMAC as well as Studio1’s Testing Site program.

Creative Team

Writer/Performer | Nadia Milford

Director | Leah Shelton

Music/Sound Design | Samira El Koussa and Anna Whitaker

Set/Costume Design | Penny Challen

Dramaturgy | Aleea Monsour and previously Wesley Enoch and Belloo Creative (Caroline Dunphy,

Kathryn Kelly, Katherine Lyall-Watson)

Stage Manager/Lighting Design | Briana Clark

Producer |Nicholas Southey

Images by Georgia Haupt | Cinematography Jade Ellis | Musician Samira El Koussa