How an extraordinary collaboration between music, opera, and film found its roots at cocreation.loft
Collaboration is the essence of any creative endeavor – especially when it crosses borders, brings people together, and drives cultural change. Zarqa, the first opera ever performed in Arabic, is exactly that: a cultural landmark shaped by artistic collaboration. Chris Piotrowicz, filmmaker and member of cocreation.loft, documented this extraordinary project, showing how people from more than 20 countries came together to make history.
But what makes this film truly special is not just its subject – it’s the co-creative spirit that made it possible in the first place. In collaboration with Ben Deiß, Creative Director for the Dresden Symphony Orchestra, the idea for the film was born at cocreation.loft. This is the story of a unique collaboration that reveals what co-creation truly means.
From Berlin to Saudi Arabia – The Beginning of an Idea
It all started at cocreation.loft in Berlin. Chris knew Ben – but didn’t know about his work with the Dresden Symphony Orchestra. That changed in early 2024, when Ben approached him to direct a documentary about Zarqa.
At the time, Chris had just finished a large project and was planning to take a break. But the idea of traveling to Saudi Arabia to document the birth of this opera kept echoing in his mind.
“Filming the first Arabic opera in Saudi Arabia – that was too exciting to turn down. I wanted to be there when history was made.”
And so, he embarked on the journey – not just to witness a cultural milestone, but to explore a completely new way of working.
Why Zarqa Became a Symbol of Change
Zarqa represents a cultural shift in Saudi Arabia. Just a few years ago, such an opera would have been unimaginable. Now, the country is gradually opening up to new forms of artistic expression.
“What’s happening in Saudi Arabia feels – in some ways – like what happened in Germany after the fall of the Berlin Wall. It’s a slow opening, through art, music, and dance.”
The opera tells the story of Zarqa al-Yamama – a legendary oracle who warned her people of danger but wasn’t believed. A powerful symbol of vision, change, and the struggle to be heard – mirroring the transformation the country is going through.
The Challenge of Collaboration
Producing Zarqa was a logistical and creative challenge. Artists, musicians, craftsmen, and technicians from over 20 countries came together to realize the project.
“I wanted the film to show more than just the artists – I wanted to highlight everyone behind the scenes: the carpenters, the logistics crew, the cooks. All the people who helped bring it to life.”
Chris was right in the middle of it, experiencing co-creation in its purest form. The opera premiere brought everything together in an emotional moment of shared achievement.
“One of the most powerful scenes I filmed was a woman in full veil, her eyes telling a story as she watched the performance. That moment stayed with me – it spoke in such a beauty.”
That moment became one of the film’s most striking images.
The role of cocreation.loft – Where co-creation begins
Without cocreation.loft, this project would never have happened.
“The cocreation.loft was essential – it’s the place that brought Ben and me together.”
Not only was the film developed at the loft – its Berlin premiere was hosted there, as well. Over 100 people gathered for a weekend screening with a possibility to ask questions to the producers of the opera itself and the production of the documentary
“The loft offers space for collaboration, reflection, and connection – and sometimes just a cozy fireplace where ideas are born.”
This openness has extended into Chris’s other projects as well. Through cocreation.loft, he’s collaborated with coaches, founders, and creatives from diverse fields – broadening his perspective as a filmmaker in ways he hadn’t imagined.
Interdisciplinary exchange as a catalyst for big ideas
Zarqa is a powerful example of what can happen when disciplines converge. From an idea sparked in Berlin to a landmark performance in Saudi Arabia, the project shows the transformative power of co-creation as well as the international impact such projects and the cocreation.loft have.
“I encourage every creative person to connect with people outside their field – that’s where the real magic happens.”
cocreation.loft is one of those rare places where ideas are shared freely, and bold collaborations take shape. It’s a home for those ready to build what doesn’t exist yet – together.
Join us
🚀 Curious about co-creation? Come join cocreation.loft in Berlin and discover a community where collaboration is more than a concept – it’s a way of life.
