Amany Adel is an Arts Manager at Seenaryo, based in Amman. Her main role is to coordinate and manage Seenaryo’s arts programmes, with a focus on participatory theatre and training for children, youth and women. Amany’s extensive experience in cultural and artistic management has enabled her to use the power of the arts to empower communities. She strongly believes that the arts can bring people together and drive positive change in society.

Beyond her role at Seenaryo, Amany wears multiple creative hats as a documentary filmmaker, photographer and podcast producer. She is passionate about exploring diverse storytelling mediums and is excited to embark on her new journey in theatre alongside Seenaryo.

Robin is Seenaryo’s Finance Manager based in the UK and is responsible for the organisation’s finance operations.

Prior to joining Seenaryo, Robin has worked with various international development organisations in Singapore and India including Save the Children, Institute for Sustainable Communities, Asian Venture Philanthropy Network, Aadipt and Thinkthrough Consulting which involved working with various donors including Ministry of Foreign Affairs Finland, USAID, European Union, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Apple, Ford Foundation, Trafigura Foundation and Singapore Economic Development Board.

Rayan started her journey in the creative industries as a photography studio assistant. Her passion for the arts extends to photography, editing, acting, dancing, and singing. In particular, her love for theatre has led her to expand her practice in physical, contemporary and devised theatre, as well as directing and writing through various workshops and theatrical studies. Currently, she’s focused on improving her vocal abilities through singing lessons and is eager to see where her creative journey takes her next.

As Head of Arts in Lebanon, Lama Amine manages all of Seenaryo’s theatre and music programmes in country. She has also directed and co-directed flagship Seenaryo productions including What’s Far is Near, I see my ghost coming from afar and Tilka.

Lama is a performer, choreographer, movement director, teacher and activist. She holds a Masters of Fine Arts in Movement Directing and teaching from The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. She is part of TNT British Company and she performed in the world premiere of My Sister Syria. She has worked as a movement director, and a physical theatre tutor with first and second year BA students at CSSD and Saint Mary’s University. In 2016 she worked on RISE production with The Old Vic New Voices as an assistant movement director. In 2015 she was selected to participate in Home Grown Theatre Project, a collaboration with the Kevin Spacey Foundation in Sharjah, UAE. Lama has worked on two operas with Robert Wilson in New York. She has also been a dancer with Sima Dance company in Dubai.

Adeeba is the Playkit Manager in Jordan. She has several years experience working with civil society organisations in Jordan, through project coordination and educational project management – including with Generations For Peace, the Nour Al Hussein Foundation, the Quest Scope Foundation, the Contact Foundation and the Princess Taghrid Foundation. She also worked as a freelance facilitator for Seenaryo before joining the team full time.

Through her artistic practice as a facilitator she aspires to change the world through art – in all its forms – and is always looking for new techniques to support her practice.

As Seenaryo’s Deputy Country Manager in Jordan, Fadi is an experienced and passionate connector of people, funding and meaningful programmes. He holds a master’s degree in Peace and Conflict Studies, with a focus on youth civic and political participation.

Throughout his career, Fadi has worked and volunteered in various sectors. He has collaborated with both local and international organisations, UN agencies and research entities in the region, where he has found purpose and enjoyment in creating new bridges between proposal development and programme management. He acts as liaison, allowing him to support a multitude of humanitarian projects and to develop a strong foundation in implementing successful projects. Fadi believes in the importance of youth engagement and community empowerment as the first step to making a better future for all.

Louay is responsible for coordinating all of the Arts Projects for Seenaryo Jordan. Louay has directed more than six children’s performances with Seenaryo and co-directed the youth performance Four O’Clock. Louay started his professional life as a Fire Safety Engineer but both before and after he has been pursuing his passion for acting and play-writing, gathering more than six years’ experience in the field. He has worked on a number of TV productions and has worked as a trainer and theatre coach for several NGOs including Questscope, Action Aid and Yaroub where he was the director of partnerships. Louay is one of the founders of Stage For Training and Development and worked as a director and trainer there for several years. Louay is passionate about using the arts in local communities and believes in the power of art for change.

Siel Devos is the Programmes Manager at Seenaryo in Lebanon, where she is responsible for overseeing projects, grants and fundraising. With a BA in Arabic and an MA in Middle East Studies from SOAS University of London, she has worked in international and local NGOs in the UK, Iraq and Lebanon for 6 years, including the British Red Cross, Humanity & Inclusion and Haven for Artists. She loves combining her eye for detail and enthusiasm for spreadsheets with her passion for arts and culture initiatives that reach the most vulnerable communities.

Combining a passion for theatre, storytelling and design thinking, Naqiya Ebrahim is one of Seenaryo’s Executive Directors and co-creator of the Playkit. She leads on Seenaryo’s communications, impact reporting and finances as well as managing development of the Playkit app. She co-designs Seenaryo’s training and resources for teachers and facilitators.

Naqiya previously worked as Head of Impact & Evaluation / Early Years Scriptwriter at now>press>play, Performing Arts Specialist at Artis Education, and Co-director at Saturday Storytellers with Croydon Council. In 2015 she co-wrote Adventures in Noggle Noggle Land, an interactive children’s theatre production. Naqiya aims to use the arts and play to create a new generation of curious, collaborative, critical thinkers – and has worked towards this goal in London, San Diego, Hong Kong, Lebanon, and Jordan.

Carole is an experienced education manager with a strong background in inclusion and disability. She graduated from the University of Saint Joseph in Beirut with a degree in special education and has since worked closely with students in schools and with their parents. Carole is a firm believer in the right of every individual to study, regardless of their abilities or disabilities. Throughout her career, Carole has dedicated herself to promoting inclusive education and providing support to students with diverse needs, she also believes in creating a safe and inclusive environment where everyone feels heard and valued. She understands that each student is unique, with their own strengths, challenges, and perspectives. Carole is committed to creating a learning environment that celebrates diversity and promotes mutual respect and understanding among all.

Rami holds a B.A. in Economics, where he specialised in inequality of revenue distribution and unfair taxation in Lebanon. With over five years experience in logistics, finance and procurement for international organisations such as Search for Common Ground, Rami is currently Seenaryo’s Finance and Procurement Officer and based in Lebanon.

Rami has volunteered for many local organisations in Lebanon, including humanitarian organisations where he worked with youth and children on personal development, leadership and non-violent communication. He thinks of himself as a “private artist” and has painted for the past 17 years – mastering oil paintings and charcoal.

Hiba Hussein is a half Palestinian and half Lebanese managerial and administrative professional and independent English-Arabic translator and interpreter, based in Lebanon. Hiba has worked and volunteered with several international and local organisations, social enterprises and grassroots initiatives working in relief, development, arts and culture. Her relationship with Seenaryo started in 2018 as a freelance translator, but she wanted to get more involved in their influential interventions of arts and education. After three years, Hiba joined Seenaryo as Office Manager in Lebanon. She is always eager to follow her passion for visual arts, body movement, music and writing in her collaboration with different artists and groups locally and internationally, as she turns to art-making as a way to express thoughts and feelings, and reflect on history and culture. She’s currently developing her personal visual-dance-music project in collaboration with Mawlana, a music producer, which initially emerged in 2018 in Raqs Al Khawanem (The Khanums’ Dance) visuals. You can find more of her artworks here.

As Communications & Engagement Manager, Eleanor is responsible for leading on external communications and producing creative content, as well as engaging and expanding Seenaryo’s audience in the UK. She produced Seenaryo’s first feature documentary, TILKA.

Prior to joining Seenaryo, Eleanor supported projects in Syria and Libya at IFIT, a Barcelona-based NGO that facilitates sustainable transitions in fragile states. Eleanor became interested in art as a tool for change whilst completing a degree in Arabic and Spanish. She wrote her dissertation on Palestinian resistance theatre and has volunteered at the Leeds Palestinian Film Festival, Shubbak Festival and Safar Film Festival.

Victoria Lupton co-founded Seenaryo in 2015. She leads on strategic development and manages the Lebanon team. She has also co-directed several Seenaryo theatre productions including The Metamorphosis After Franz Kafka which toured 12 times around Lebanon, and What’s Far Is Near, which brought together women in Lebanon and the UK via video linkup.

Victoria has worked in and on Lebanon since 2011, first in contemporary art, then directing the US nonprofit SEAL (Social & Economic Action for Lebanon). She has created art projects including the Another Place audio walk which has toured to five countries on three continents; and co-translated two plays for the Royal Court Theatre. She started her working life as an actor, before realising that her strengths lie in acting behind the scenes for a social purpose. She has a degree in Philosophy, Politics & Economics and a Diploma in Acting.

Megan believes that so often in modern society we often watch, listen to and elevate the stories of people we don’t know and will never meet, but rarely highlight and give attention to local community stories in the same way. As Programmes Manager with Seenaryo in Jordan, she is actively working to rectify this imbalance. Her role leans on her over 5 years experience in project management (specialising in youth and gender programming) in the field of International Development, with her passion and experience in arts and theatre facilitation.

Megan holds an MSc in International Development from SOAS, and an MA in Applied Theatre from RCSSD, (University of London). Her career highlights have included: as New Partnerships Programme Trainer with Theatre for a Change (TfaC), on their first regional project training youth in Palestine on Interactive Radio Drama techniques to create an original radio series about Gender Based Violence & broadcasted to over 100,000 listeners; as Program Coordinator with Collateral Repair Project, connecting refugee community members in east Amman to learning opportunities through funding from USAID; as well as producing the short film Every Piece of Me/ كل جزء مني with ASHTAR Theatre.

Rana is Seenaryo’s Senior Arts Manager, with a diverse background spanning teaching, event coordination, fundraising, and office management. From working with children with special needs, to managing operations for organisations such as Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung in Lebanon, her journey in the arts has been dynamic.

For Rana, Seenaryo is more than a space – it is a place of  boundless creativity. She believes in the enduring power of hope to fuel our dreams, and is dedicated to turning aspirations into reality.

With a deep passion for educational development in Jordan, Dima Nustas has diverse experience managing large scale education projects in schools and universities since 2014, working with British Council Jordan and later, INTERSOS. During 2018 she worked with Syrian refugees in south Amman and helped 95% of out of school children get back on track with their education. In 2019 she volunteered in the Erasmus plus program in Bulgaria and started off her own V-Cope project to motivate youth in Jordan to volunteer abroad and work on their personal growth. With Seenaryo, Dima will continue the journey of working towards a generation that has access to quality education and is able to achieve their full potential.

Oscar Wood co-founded Seenaryo in 2015. While he is no longer actively working for the organisation, he says co-creating the Seenaryo Playkit is an achievement eclipsed only by his frequent and judicious additions to Seenaryo’s global risk register: “fun and safety share at least one letter” is a mantra he’s still working on.

Oscar is an educational entrepreneur, consultant, lecturer – but most of all, a teacher. In 2011, he co-founded now>press>play who deliver immersive audio experiences to over 60,000 UK children. He’s been artistic director of Upstage Performance Group since 2004. Oscar is also a children’s composer and conductor, and has led choirs in venues like the Barbican, Southbank Centre and London’s Olympic Park. He has lectured in education at the IOE, Christ Church Canterbury and the University of Cumbria.

Abdelrahman started acting as a hobby but it soon turned into a passion. He began acting in several plays, taking on lead roles, before he became a theatre facilitator with Seenaryo. He has worked on various theatre projects with children affected by the Beirut blast and participated in online youth theatre.

Ramy is a Lebanese actor, drama teacher and psychosocial support facilitator with many years of experience in these fields. Currently, he is pursuing an MA in Dramatic Arts at the Lebanese University. As a drama teacher, he has worked with NGOs such as War Child and Home of Hope, which work with vulnerable and disadvantaged children. As an actor, he has worked and performed in many plays, including ‘Choix’ and ‘Mixed Nuts’, and has participated in various workshops and projects in Lebanon.

May is a Beirut-based Lebanese performer, facilitator, director, and production and education manager. She is currently an Applied Theatre Instructor at the American University of Beirut and Seenaryo theatre facilitator. She also co-designed and led a participatory action research study about collective organising with women domestic migrant workers in Lebanon, through experiential theatre learning techniques. May is co-founder and co-producer of the Foundation for Arab Dramatic Arts (FADA) that focuses on archiving Arab theatre (2022). Her applied theatre, community and education work ranges from working in prisons, with children and adults of different ages and special needs, to the elderly with dementia, with ex-fighters in conflict-riddled areas, and with refugees.

Layal is a Lebanese filmmaker. She graduated top of her class in 2018 from the Lebanese University with a Masters in Film Directing. Her latest short film “Pick Me Up” has been in festivals around the world, winning several awards along the way including Best Short Fiction and Best Director. She is currently mainly working as an editor and motion graphics animator.

Hassan is a freelance actor and theatre facilitator. He’s acted in many theatre shows, and played supporting roles in a number of independent films and television series. He’s taken part in theatre workshops with Koon Theatre Group, Zoukak and Wasel. He’s also a member of NABAD Theatre Group. Currently, he’s writing his first play supported by a grant from Ettijahat – Independent Culture.

Abed is a Palestinian nurse, a leader for Yaabad Scout Troupe, a journalist and photographer based in Shatila Camp. He learnt photography at Dar Al Mussawir. He’s a volunteer with the Palestinian Civil Defense and works with the humanitarian organisation, Space. His favorite hobby is acting because he believes it is the best form of expression. He has participated with Seenaryo since it was first established in Lebanon. He took part in ‘The Metamorphosis’ and ‘I See My Ghost Coming from Afar’ and now works with Seenaryo as a facilitator.

Fida is Syrian and has been living in Lebanon for eight years. She’s worked with different NGOs within the education field. Fida began working with Seenaryo in 2017 and has been working as a women’s theatre facilitator with them ever since.

Yousif is Palestinian and graduated with a BA in Business Administration from the Lebanese International University. He works as a social worker with Taawon Association.

Mostafa is a social activist against all types of violence – whether it is based on nationality, religion or gender – through art, social work, research and discussions. He dreams of a world filled with humanity, equality, love and peace.

Ahmad is Palestinian and based in Beirut, where he studies nursing at Sahel Institute. He has been involved with Seenaryo since 2015 and has participated in many Seenaryo productions including Metamorphosis, I See My Ghost Coming from Afar and Behind the Banana Truck. Ahmad has since trained as a theatre facilitator and leads Seenaryo Showbuilds in partnership with Yaabad Scout. His acting skills are always evolving and through theatre he has learnt how to be a responsible adult.

Sarah is a theatre practitioner, she holds a master’s degree in dramatic arts from the Lebanese University. Her studies are focused on social theatre and its impact on marginalised communities. She is also a member of the Red Bridge Theatre Ensemble for Playback Theatre in Lebanon.

Roaa co-founded Minwal Theatre Company. She works on developing theatre training programmes aimed at actors and non-professional actors, in addition to playing a key role in developing the company’s artistic vision. Roaa has a postgraduate diploma in dramatic studies from the Lebanese University. Her artistic practice is based on the role of the performer in creating dynamic movement and vocal language that simulates contemporary artistic language.

After earning a baccalaureate in nursery, Amanda completed a BA in Theatre and an MA in Actor Training from the Lebanese University. She applies her educational background to many different fields of work. She has worked as an animator and drama teacher as well as acting in various plays and television series. She is also a dancer in several groups – dancing is her passion.

Karim is a multi-career professional teacher and artist, with more than 11 years of experience in academic institutions. He holds a BA in Business Administration from Notre Dame University, a BA in Theatre from the Lebanese University and an MA in Educational Administration & Policy Studies from the American University of Beirut. Currently, he is an International Baccalaureate drama teacher, project manager and thriving actor, eager to merge his passion for theatre and education.

Soline is a specialist in Applied Drama and Theatre. She studied theatre education, psychology, psychosocial support, systemic therapy, drama therapy, psychodrama, Playback Theatre, and Dance Movement Therapy (DMT). Over the past 15 years, she has worked in the field of applied theatre with different community groups. She established the Red Bridge Ensemble, which specialises in Playback Theatre and Theatre of the Oppressed. Soline is also a director and performer. She has directed theatre performances with women and children in Lebanon and Cairo.

Tala is a public relations practitioner. She believes that with good communication, interaction and social skills anyone can succeed and lead others towards success. Art is her passion, her escape and her existence, and she seeks to include it in her everyday life, especially in work. Tala devotes herself to art in order to help others express their feelings through it. Art is always there for us, don’t take it for granted.

Ghaydaa is from Homs, Syria and is now based in Bekaa, Lebanon. She’s a volunteer with Women Now for their Let Me Keep My Childhood campaign, which is a campaign against child marriage. She joined Seenaryo as a participant in in the 2020 Studio production of In the Middle and has since trained with Seenaryo in various workshops. She first fell in love with theatre because of Seenaryo and takes great pride in being a facilitator for children’s theatre projects.

Nisrine holds a Masters degree in French literature. She also has a certificate from the Isabelle Filliozat Institute in empathy and communication and one from CICLOP for creative writing. She is also a certified mediator in conflict resolution. Nisrine works in the field of education and is passionate about accompanying children and adults on their journey of knowledge, but most importantly of learning and growing. As a self-development trainer, she firmly believes that art, playing and creativity are the ultimate mediums to disseminate peace, growth and self-discovery.

Fadia is a professional puppeteer, actress and drama teacher. Throughout her career, she has performed in nine plays, 23 puppet shows and six films. She’s appeared in award-winning feature films including “When Mariam Spoke” and “The Maiden’s Pond”. She’s also participated in several clown and contemporary dance shows. Fadia holds a diploma in acting from the Institute of Fine Arts – Lebanese University. She trained in Lebanon and abroad in areas including Japanese Butho dance, commedia dell’arte, shadow theatre and the red-nose clown.

Myriam took part in cinema workshops from the age of 16 in Lebanon and Spain, which led her to acquire a BA in audiovisual arts at USEK in 2013. She later juggled various jobs in the field: art direction, acting, styling and sound recording. She has been working as a freelance editor for the past six years. Her recent portfolio includes associate editor on the Cannes Jury Prize Winner “Capernaum” by Nadine Labaki, the editor of “The Blue Inmates” by Zeina Daccache (selected in El Gouna Film Festival) and the director of “Laban Emmo” (selected in Redzone Film Festival). Myriam has been working as a freelance editor with Seenaryo since the beginning of 2021. When Myriam is not editing, she enjoys practicing her passion for dancing, theatre and social work.

Jad is an artist and co-founder of Minwal Theatre Company, whose work has been shown in Lebanon and internationally. His practice is intimate, provocative and participatory, with a strong emphasis on public engagement. He has extensive experience in training and facilitating theatre workshops, and has been a puppeteer since 2008. Jad holds a postgraduate diploma in Dramatic Arts from the Lebanese University. His work has been presented in Lebanon, Egypt, Tunisia, Uganda, Rwanda and Italy.

Sally is a drama teacher in Baabda. She works with non-governmental organisations and volunteers for feminist projects. She has previously participated in short movies and plays, but is now pursuing a master’s degree in Theatrical Direction from the Lebanese University.

Nour is a drama teacher, activist and trainer, with 18 years of experience in different fields, including theatre, non-violent education and inquiry-based learning. She has a BA in theatre and education and is pursuing two masters degrees in non-violence & human rights and theatre studies.

Nour is passionate about bringing theatre to children, women and youth to create safe spaces for expression where change emerges. Nour is determined to promote individual and collective growth and equal opportunities for all through the design and implementation of a variety of educational tools and strategies.

Farah is a Palestinian refugee and a leader for Yaabad Scouts. She is studying for a degree in Radio, TV and Film at AUL University. Farah participated in the Seenaryo Studio productions “Metamorphosis” and “I see my ghost coming from afar”. She has also trained to be a children’s theatre facilitator with Seenaryo. Alongside her interest in theatre, Farah has taken part in a number of photography workshops with Dar Al Musawer.

Hanan is a Palestinian refugee from Lebanon, who is studying as an international student at the University of Bristol. She participated with Seenaryo in projects with Yaabad Scout as a kid. She later became a facilitator and took part in longer projects like the Metamorphosis play that toured around Lebanon. Her hobbies and interests would have to include theatre, photography, writing and very recently, painting.

Zeina loves to live life to the fullest. She has a degree in theatre and is studying for a masters in non-violent theatre. She is a drama instructor at Ghobayreh School also a psychodrama coach for Syrian refugee children. She has worked in refugee camps of various nationalities, and with many NGOs such as Amel Association, Ahlouna, Chajar o Bashar, Save the Children, SDS Chiyah and Intersos. Zeina dreams of owning a large stadium where anyone can come dance, sing, act, play an instrument or even paint freely.

Rana Jalkh was Senior Arts Manager with Seenaryo, and prior to that worked with Goethe Institute and Hammana Artist House as a Production Coordinator. She has worked as an Assistant Director and editor for several films and commercials. She has also participated in several theatre workshops/plays.

In 2019 Rana travelled to Berlin and took part in six Physical Theatre workshops; she wants to continue her artistic journey, exploring more and more the wonders and beautiful adventures of theatre.

Rania is (proudly!) training to be a nurse. She grew up in an orphanage and always finds hope to keep living. Rania loves dancing and gymnastics.

Dana’s true love is theatre. She has worked as a theatre coordinator in various schools and has written and directed award-winning pieces both locally and internationally. She’s also worked with NGOs including Save the Children and Mentors Arabis as a PSS facilitator and theatre expressionist in response to the Beirut blast. Dana has a degree in theatre from the Lebanese University – Faculty of Fine Arts & Architecture and is doing her MA in Theatre Research at Saint Joseph University.

Nancy graduated with two degrees from the Lebanese University; she holds a BA in Marketing and Management as well as a BA in Theatre, Cinema and Television. She currently works as a drama and dance teacher in Lebanon. Over the years, Nancy has worked as an events manager and coordinator in both Lebanon and the UAE, before taking on teaching roles. She is a committed educator with an innate ability to understand and motivate children.

She has performed parts in several dance theatre musicals in Lebanon and the Arab world and collaborated with multiple artists and dance theatre companies. Nivine has participated in workshops conducted by local and international choreographers in Spain, Paris, Italy, Morocco and Lebanon.

Seba is a performer, puppeteer, psychosocial support worker and a capacity building trainer. She has worked with different international organisations in the psychosocial department and has used integrated theatre techniques. She graduated from the theatre department of the Lebanese University. Seba performed with Koon Theater Group in Brussels, Gent and Beirut in their production of ‘The Other Side of the Garden’, a partnership with the National Theatre Brussels. She is passionate about working with youth and children.

Raghda is an actress and a theatre instructor. She holds an MA in Theatre Studies from Université Lumière in Lyon. She has performed in theatre productions in France, Belgium, Morocco and Lebanon, choosing to work collaboratively on unconventional site-specific projects with clear socio-political themes. She has been teaching drama in secondary school in Beirut since 2009. In 2019, she was selected as one of 35 scholars worldwide to be part of the Theatertreffen International Forum to exchange ideas and experiences across artistic and international boundaries. She co-founded the YAZAN Professional Artist Training (YPAT), an alternative theatre training in Lebanon.

Rania is a theatre facilitator and Playkit trainer with Seenaryo. She has directed several plays with them, including ‘Ghazl Al Banat’. Rania is an actress, voice talent, actor trainer, writer and director. She holds a BA in Dramatic Arts and an MA in Acting Coaching from the Lebanese University and has recently begun her PhD in Theatre. She’s a member of the Red Bridge Ensemble for Playback Theatre and ‘Les Amis de Marionettes’, a puppet troupe that performs in Lebanon and abroad.

Yassine began acting in Syria in 2010 with a local theatre ensemble called Adonia, and went on to be a playwright for social awareness raising street plays with Aga Khan Foundation and UNDP until 2017. He then moved to Lebanon where he started working with Seenaryo as a theatre facilitator. He has trained in theatre with Zokak, Clown Me In, Seenaryo and Laban. Yassine is now focusing on using all the skills he has learnt through trainings to produce and act in stage and street theatre. He is also a volunteer with Syrian Eyes.

Fiona works as a Volunteer Manager for several NGOs. She joined Seenaryo in 2021 after finishing her Theatre Leadership Training. With a masters in Educational Management & Leadership and experience in the performing arts, she aspires to manage projects that aim to take care of people’s well-being.

Rouba has a degree in dramatic arts and has over ten years of experience with different NGOs as a psychological support worker, theatre facilitator, social worker and arts therapist. In particular, she works closely with refugees and disabled people. She is a drama teacher in several schools in Akkar, where she infuses dancing with other art forms. She is also an actress, photographer, script writer and theatre director.

Sara is a graduate in Environmental & Public Health. She works as a development programme coordinator for refugees with an interest in social development and education.

Jean-Paul is an actor, drama teacher and director based in Lebanon. He joined Seenaryo as a theatre facilitator in 2021. He has an MA in Actor Training from the Lebanese University – Faculty of Fine Arts & Architecture. Jean-Paul performed in the world premiere of the Arabic Opera ‘Antar wa Abla’ and participated in the Lebanese National Theater Festival in 2019. He’s worked as a theatre facilitator and director for several NGOs across Lebanon. Jean-Paul also has a great passion for music; he pursued his studies at the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music in classical singing. He believes that theatre is crucial for the community and that it can contribute to social change and development, particularly for underprivileged communities.

Hasna is from Majdal Anjar. She’s loved theatre and expressing herself through acting since she was a child. In 2019, Hasna joined the Seenaryo family and participated in various trainings. She has participated in two Studio productions, ‘Candyfloss’ and ‘In The Middle’. She loves working with the new generation to support them to express themselves during these challenging times. One of her biggest achievements in life has been joining Seenaryo.

Raneem has a degree in theatre and a masters in directing from the Lebanese University. She also holds a masters in drama therapy from USEK University Kaslik. Raneem has been a drama teacher since 2014 and was a founding member of the academic theatre programme for the UAE curriculum, in collaboration with the Emirates Ministry of Education. Outside of drama, she is a Zumba fitness instructor.

Antonella is a theatre actress aspiring to explore theatre further as an actress and a light designer. She took part in “Maharat” workshop for technicians specializing in theatre lighting and in several plays as an actress. In addition to that, she has a passion for cinema and has taken part in seven short films as an art director.

Ghalya is a Lebanese actress. She obtained her BA in Dramatic Arts from the Lebanese University – Institute of Fine Arts and recently complete her masters in drama therapy. She is a clown, an improviser and a play-backer, she also teaches drama in Lebanese schools.

Nancy is an established actress, with over eight years experience in acting, coaching and career guidance. She studied acting at the Lebanese Institute of Fine Arts and has an MA in Actor Training. Nancy is an avid researcher, continuously doing new education training to provide the most up-to-date techniques, acting methods and programmes that fit the needs of every individual. Over the past few years, Nancy has held many positions as an actress and backstage crew, as a director, writer, producer, stage manager, stylist and facilitator.

Nour has been an education trainer since 2017. He is an actor, playwright, theatre director and trainer. He has produced several shows during his career, the latest being Al Barzakh. He is passionate about multidisciplinary arts and has participated in many electronic music and hip-hop projects under the pseudonym, Fasel. Nour believes that art is a healthy ritual for expressing anything in any way.

Ruba is an enthusiastic dreamer who loves to express herself through art in all its all forms, especially devised theatre. After earning an undergraduate degree in PR, she found a passion for facilitation where she helps people voice express themselves through singing, dancing and acting. She aims to build a loud generation that is fearless.

Ali is a freelance photographer, filmmaker and musician based in Beirut. He’s filmed for international organisations and media outlets on various projects and music videos, as well as writing articles and reports, and providing research assistance. He’s co-founder of Syrian Eyes and Jazz Kabeez.

Ramia started with Seenaryo as a participant in a women’s theatre project in 2020, In The Middle. After the project finished, she trained to become a facilitator. So far, she has facilitated one Showbuild in Baalbeck and an online children’s theatre project with children from Beirut in 2021.

Riham graduated from the American University of Science and Technology with a BA in Communication Arts specialised in Radio/Film/Television. She has directed, produced and written several awareness raising ads about sexual health, women’s right, overdosing and positive masculinity. In addition to that, she’s planned, designed and conducted awareness sessions for caregivers, youth, and children on different topics ranging from capacity building to peacebuilding, conflict resolution, communication skills, leadership, advocacy, sports, and art for peace.

Husam is a multi-award winning theatre director, puppeteer, facilitator, musician and producer who lives in Prague. He holds a Masters of Directing for Alternative and Puppet Theatre from the Academy of Performing Arts/Czechia. He is a PhD student of Theatre (Puppetry) at Bath Spa University and a co-founder of Dafa Puppet Theatre in Prague. He co-creates and devises performances with community members in different places, including working as a freelance theatre facilitator with Seenaryo Jordan. He directs performances and facilitates workshops in Europe, the Arab world and Southeast Asia. He is also the co-founder of Ya Khayyal Theatre Lab, for refugee and local youth in Amman, Objects Without Borders and LIV’in festival in Prague.

Sara holds a degree in press and media. She started her career at a local Jordanian channel as a field reporter, specialising in theatre and teaching. Sara has also worked with different organisations hosting refugees as a field researcher. She is a theatre actress and teaches children’s theatre with Akwan Institute, as well as being part of a sketch-show team as an actress.

Combining his passion and artistic vision, Hani is a theatre facilitator with Seenaryo. He collaborates with partners to develop project ideas and guides group to ensure they meet their objectives. He has worked as a youth media and theatre trainer at Ya’rob for three years. Hani has also worked as a media consultant for various environmental projects. He aims to create an artistic environment in every place he works.

Samer is a Syrian artist based in Amman. He first set foot in the arts whilst studying theatre, before becoming a violinist and music composer. He recently moved towards curation in the broader middle eastern region after gaining experience working on local and international exhibitions. In his practice, he pays particular attention to the relationship between sound, image and space. This focus can be explained by the transcription of a mental or physical image into music and vice versa.

Maesra studied Business Information Systems at the University of Jordan. He currently works as a social researcher on community research and development at the Information and Research Centre – King Hussein Foundation (IRCKHF). Since 2012, he has worked work in the field of development at the Prince Hassan Club and World Vision Foundation. Maesra also founded the Yarub Charitable Society for Development. He has been working with Seenaryo as a Playkit trainer and Video Making trainer since 2019.

Sara Ghanma has been working in the field of creative, play-based learning for 4 years. Her experience varies from project design and coordination, training and content development, early childhood education, and theatre facilitation.

Sara is a theatre actress and aspiring writer with an educational background in Management.  experience has been in music consultancy and curating, copywriting, brand management, and research. Sara hopes to use her voice and writing to advocate for the arts and its role in improving mental and emotional well-being, especially in children and young adults.

Mohammad is an actor and director who adores theatre and interactive performance. He graduated from the University of Jordan with a degree in theatre. As a teacher, he’s enthusiastic about using drama and performance influenced by Russian literature to deliver engaging classes. He has acted in various plays at the Amman Youth Festival and the Jordanian Festival of Theatre.

Arabella has been facilitating and co-facilitating theatre with youth and children since she was 17. British-born, her interest in exploring the world through theatre brought her to the Middle East in 2012. Since settling in Jordan, she has spent three years working in Zaatari refugee camp, setting up and running an inclusive theatre for children. Arabella is now a full-time drama teacher, freelance actress and member of Amman’s playback theatre troupe.

Mary is an actor, children’s theatre director, certified trainer, drama teacher and theatre facilitator who has worked for more than six years in the field of education. She is passionate about using drama for educational development.

May is a storyteller, researcher, trainer, expressive arts educator and programme director. Through her work she aims to develop children’s ability to awaken and understand their own creativity. May launched an initiative ‘Ostia Osaah’ in 2007, which encourages children to express themselves though arts.

Seba is a class teacher at the UNWRA University and for many years has had a passion for theatre and the arts. She completed the Young Facilitators programme with Seenaryo and has since become a co-facilitator on Seenaryo Scratches. Seba established ‘Arts Vision’ with two other young people she met on the Young Facilitators programme. Seban continues to apply the participatory theatre techniques she first learnt with Seenaryo in all aspects of her theatre practice with Art Vision. Seba has a particular interest in dance, physical theatre and stage makeup.

Eman participated in Seenaryo youth theatre projects, where she co-wrote and performed in two productions. During the projects she developed her artistic skills as well as her teamwork and collaborative skills. Eman then became a freelance set designer for Seenaryo, working on summer Scratch projects. She has a special way of working with children and produces high quality sets.

Raghad is a self-taught artist who works as the Creative Arts Programme Coordinator at Ruwwad Al Tanmya. She is also a member of an international artist collective at Micro Galleries in Hong Kong.

Idreesi is a producer, singer and songwriter based in Amman. He is the Co-Founder of the electro-acoustic collective Garaseen. He started his musical journey whilst studying acting and directing for theatre at the University of Jordan in 2012. Using his acoustic guitar, Idreesi was exploring a new way of expressing his feelings, emotions and events from his personal life. As he was always infatuated with the arts, it was only natural that he eventually decided to embark on a creative career of his own.

Solo is a dancer, actor, facilitator and YouTuber. He’s performed in two Seenaryo Studio productions and trained as a facilitator, before becoming a choreographer and director on Seenaryo children’s theatre productions. Solo has also been a volunteer dance instructor for more than 50 dancers at the Jesuit Centre and hopes to develop his skills as a performer, leader and coordinator of performing arts programmes in the future.

Shereen is a Jordanian feminist theatre-maker, performer and facilitator. She has a BA in acting and directing from The University of Jordan and won the Chevening Award, completing her MA in Performance Making at the University of Goldsmiths in 2019. She has been a storyteller since 2012 and co-founded the Artistic Freedom of Expression Network (AAT) for women and youth. Her experience spans regional work in Egypt, Turkey, and Tunisia as well as global stages in Sweden, Italy, and the UK. Shereen was also the Associate Director of Queens of Syria, which toured to leading theatres across Britain.

Manar is a bilingual translator and copywriter. She has been working as a wordsmith for the past six years across Jordan, Dubai and Turkey. She graduated from the Lebanese University, majoring in translation studies, and loves bringing out her artistic, creative side in writing as well as through her paintings.

Amani is an English teacher and an English – Arabic translator. She has worked with different grassroots organisations in Lebanon. Today, based in  France, she is continuing her studies to become a trilingual translator between, English, French and Arabic. She also volunteers with réfugiés.info.

Gemma is a software engineer living in Prague, Czech Republic. She is originally from a small town in the north of the UK. She studied Artificial Intelligence at university, although she now prefers to focus on front end web development. Gemma has been supporting the development of the Seenaryo website since 2017.

Currently living in Mumbai, India, Nisreen is a graphic designer and illustrator by trade, and an artist at heart. She is passionate about experimenting with different materials – you can check out her recent designs on instagram (@designhappinis).

Nisreen comes from an advertising and design background and has worked extensively with various ad agencies and design houses in the USA, Singapore and India. She first joined Seenaryo in 2019 and has assisted with fundraising as well as contributing to the Playkit, for which she has illustrated over 500 flashcards.

Antonio Gould is the Executive Director of Teach Monster Games. They are a non-profit educational technology company helping over 2 million children learn to read each month and now expanding into other areas of learning and development. Previous to this Antonio has 20 years experience delivering a wide range of projects across web, mobile, social, games and software for brands, broadcasters and charities. More information at www.teachyourmonstertoread.com / www.usbornefoundation.org.uk.

Luke is the global Head of Innovation for Strategy Goals at Save the Children. He has worked there since 2011, primarily in humanitarian contexts. His first overseas work was in Za’atari refugee camp for Syrian refugees in Jordan followed by the Beqaa Valley in Lebanon. Since then, Luke has been involved in the set-up, ongoing management and operational reviews of humanitarian responses and programs in many different countries like Greece, Madagascar, Bangladesh, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and China. Most recently, Luke was the Country Director for Save the Children in Haiti. Since 2020 Luke has been working on scaling innovation at Save the Children and now heads up a team to support innovation across the organisations four strategic goals.

Lina Khatib is the Director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House and is a frequent commentator on Middle Eastern affairs in the international media. She previously directed the Carnegie Middle East Center and co-founded and led the Program on Arab Reform and Democracy at Stanford University’s Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law. In a former capacity she was an academic at Royal Holloway, University of London and published 7 books including Image Politics in the Middle East (2013), Lebanese Cinema (2008) and Filming the Modern Middle East (2006). Prior to that she worked as a radio presenter at Radio Lebanon in Beirut. Outside of her current work in policy, she co-founded the World Metal Congress and is currently developing a theatrical performance about Middle East politics, besides occasional visual art and millinery projects.

Alex Khosla works for Aikya Investment Management, researching and investing in companies in Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa. Previously he worked in similar roles at Stewart Investors, AXA Framlington and UBS Investment Bank. He is also a trustee at Angel Shed, an inclusive children’s theatre company in London. Alex is a CFA Charterholder.

Shifa Obeid works in the Risk Department of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), responsible for a portfolio of more than EUR 3 billion in infrastructure transactions in Turkey, Ukraine and the Middle East. Previously, she worked as a banker in EBRD’s Amman office and Arab Bank’s Project Finance team. Shifa is a CFA charter holder. She is also a member of fundraising teams for several EBRD community initiatives.

Salim was born in Syria, lived in Sweden and then emigrated to the U.K. He is interested in education and its potential in fostering a sense of hope and dignity. Salim holds a degree in public policy and sociology of migration and ethnic relations.

Ziba is a Partner at Hambleden Capital, a family office investing in businesses across the financial services, real estate, VC and impact sectors. Previously she worked in M&A and wealth management. She has an MBA from London Business School.

Ziba is also an Ambassador of the Victoria and Albert Museum’s Young Patrons Circle; and is starting to craft her family’s foundation. Coming from an Iranian refugee family, she is very interested in the power of education and creative expression.

As the Head of Arts in Lebanon, Lama Amine manages all of Seenaryo’s theatre and music programmes in country. She has also directed or co-directed flagship Seenaryo productions including What’s Far is Near, I see my ghost coming from afar and Tilka.

Rana Issa is Assistant Professor of Translation Studies at the American University of Beirut and Sr. research fellow at the University of Oslo. She specializes in literary history and translation. She is the co-founder of SPACE-no.org (Space for the Production of Arab Art in Exile) and is the author of a forthcoming book entitled The Modern Arabic Bible. Rana is also a translator and lives between Beirut and Oslo. 

Born in Beirut, Rania is an artist and filmmaker, working with still and moving images, she has directed videos and creative documentaries. Anchored in the turbulent reality of her country, her documentaries give a personal perspective to political events. She intertwines raw images with a poetic edge, where chance encounters are captured with compassion and humour. Work on archival material has been an underlying interest in her artistic work. Her most recent work investigates forgotten images and sounds that haunt the present. By juxtaposing them with new ones, she explores a diversity of meanings, triggering renewed narratives and emotions.  Approaching images like an editor – part detective, part cinephile – she traces absence and remembrance.