Journey of the True Self is a snapshot of Aliya Aboo’s life, based on her lived experience as a Muslim migrant, transitioning gender, culture and countries, moving through hardships yet always believing in herself. Her voice is one not commonly heard. This play is fantastical, challenging, incredible, unique and true. The audience is taken on an epic heroine’s journey of courage and resilience. She discovers friendship in unexpected places as she moves through landscapes of text, poetry, music and dance as the fabric of cultural identity emerges from a suitcase.
Writers: R.Johns & Aliya Aboo
Creatives: Peter Mumford, Robert Vincs, Rosemary Johns
Performers: Suhasini S, Aliya Aboo, Raj Moodley, Joshinder Chaggar, Akeel Purmanund, Sepideh Karimi and Marc Opitz
Marketing Assistant: Georgina Luck
Hero Image Photographer: Darren Gill
“Carefully crafted, complex, contradictory, and compelling, "Birthday Books of Storms" has it all. The play doesn’t drizzle, it torrents - an intense tempest of the lives of such beautifully broken people. Make sure that you book tickets now before the storm passes.”
For As Told By The Boys Who Fed Me Apples
“Unique, powerful and deeply affecting”
Reference to child molestation, attempted suicide, surgery
Visual Ratings: 50%
Aural Ratings: 100%
Suitable Age: 16+
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Coming up
Three people. Two languages. One truth. Fahimt? // ثلاثة وجوه. لغتان. ومن يفهم، يملك الحقيقة. فهمت؟
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More detailsA mother and daughter spend the weekend together in the magic of the Australian bush, surrounded by the ghosts of their past
More detailsLa Mama Explorations 2026 is supported by the Cybec Foundation and the City of Melbourne Multi-Year Arts Grants Program