When Aya fled Syria with her family 12 years ago and sought refuge in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, she never imagined she would become a theatre maker. Doing theatre for the first time with Seenaryo, she says, revealed parts of herself that she didn’t know existed.

Her first theatre production with Seenaryo was Tilka in 2021. She was initially reluctant to take part, as it was her first time leaving home, but with some encouragement she eventually joined in. She remembers, “Back then I was restricted, my mindset was limited.”

Participating in theatre helped her to let go. Aya says, “I learnt how to let myself live, let my body live, let my mind and imagination live.” 

After taking part in a number of Seenaryo plays, Aya was invited to train to become a facilitator. She was then chosen to lead one of Seenaryo’s emergency theatre projects in response to Israel’s ground invasion and nationwide bombing campaign of Lebanon in 2024. 

At the time she told us: “People are in desperate need of spaces where they feel safe. It’s not just about giving psychological support in the traditional sense, but creating a space for people to escape their circumstances, even if just for a little while.” 

Aya hopes to return to Syria soon, taking theatre with her to support her community as they face the monumental task of carving out a new future for their country. 

I’m really excited to take this all back to Syria, for the children there. They need theatre for the same reasons I did: to express themselves, to feel free, and to communicate with others.