Troupe Courage presents:
The Horse of Jenin

International theatre collective Troupe Courage makes theatre about people’s ingenuity in their struggle to survive. Since October, Troupe Courage player Alaa Shehada’s life has been completely turned upside down. Alaa is now in the Netherlands and it is more urgent than ever that he tells his survival story.

The horse is an Arabic symbol for freedom. This symbol keeps recurring in Alaa’s life. In his hometown, there is a 5-meter-high statue of a horse. Representing resistance and resilience, it is the pride of Jenin. When an Israeli bulldozer removes the statue, Alaa wonders: Why? What happened to the horse? Did it tell about the day Alaa tried to ride the horse with Ahmed? From fragments of memories, Alaa builds a new horse, augmented by a huge dose of humor and imagination. A theatrical symbol of resilience and imagination.

“My imagination became the freedom in my life” – Alaa Shehada

Alaa Shehada (born 1991) is an actor and comedian from Jenin (West Bank). He graduated from ‘The Freedom Theatre’ in 2014. Since Troupe Courage gave a workshop there in 2011, he immediately became a regular actor of the collective. Besides Troupe Courage, he works as a doctor clown for RedNoses International and is co-founder and director of The Palestine Comedy Club. He has appeared on stages around the world, from the US to Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and has collaborated with renowned directors such as Amir Nizar Zubi, Mark Thomas and Di Trevis. In 2018, he received the award for best performance at the Palestinian National Theatre Festival, received an award at the International Festival of Liberal Theatre in Jordan and received the title of best screenwriter for ‘London Jenin’ in 2019.

Colofon
Play/Maker: Alaa Shehada |Direction: Katrien van Beurden | Co-direction: Thomas van Ouwerkerk | Stand-Up comedy & script consultant: Sam Beale | Masks: Den Durand | Music: Remy van Kesteren, Khalil Al Batran | Dramaturgy: Maarten Bos | Production and business: Monique Bos | Publicity: Sarah Milo | Campaign images: Dario&Misja photography | With special thanks to: Voordekunst, the supporters of the crowdfunding, Jacqueline Kleijn, Hugo Keuzenkamp, Tjipke Bergsma, Nan van Houte, Lucas Hendricks