Ahmad
Sabra, Beirut, Lebanon
A decade ago, thirteen-year-old Ahmad was among 30 children who created the first ever Seenaryo Showbuild – Be Careful What You Wish For – in Shatila refugee camp, writing and performing the character of the phone seller. Over the course of one week, the ensemble created the story, wrote the songs, painted the set and shared their original play with family and friends.
Since 2015, Ahmad has participated in three more Showbuilds and three flagship Studio productions, performing on stages across Lebanon and touring the play I see my ghost coming from afar to Germany twice.
Growing up as a Palestinian refugee in Lebanon, Ahmad had never been able to travel before as Lebanese law denies Palestinians the right to citizenship, making it nearly impossible to travel abroad.
Reflecting on the tour to Germany, Ahmad said, “I learnt from the process how to be free and feel this freedom on stage.” Adding, “It’s beautiful to express using movement rather than always having to rely on words.”
Through his characters, Ahmad has often confronted the discrimination faced by Palestinians in Lebanon. But inside the rehearsal room, he’s never experienced any discrimination: “there’s no difference if you’re Syrian, Palestinian or Lebanese,” he says.
After various years as a participant, Ahmad took training with Seenaryo to become a theatre facilitator. He describes it as a “give and take” – he is now able to give back to the children in his community what he has learnt himself over the past decade.
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