Developing Artists and Shubbak present
A new dark political comedy about retaining innocence in Palestine
From the team behind 2016’s acclaimed Queens of Syria
UK Premiere Tour from 27 June – 22 July 2017
Following the earliest footsteps of life through a warzone, And Here I Am is a coming-of-age story that witnesses the comedic absurdities of growing up in one of the world’s most troubled conflict zones. A world away from headlines and news bulletins, And Here I Am charts the intimate truths of Ahmed Tobasi’s personal odyssey. From his birth in a Palestinian refugee camp; to unwittingly escaping invading soldiers by playing hide and seek; And Here I Am is a tale of everyday human experiences against a backdrop of inhumane circumstances.
Combining fact and fantasy, tragedy and comedy, spanning both the first and second Palestinian Intifadas, And Here I Am follows Tobasi through his transformation from armed resistance fighter to artist; his journey as a refugee in the West Bank to Norway, and then back again.
In a series of tragicomic episodes vividly brought to life by award winning writer Hassan Abdlrazzak, And Here I Am is directed by Zoe Lafferty, whose directing credits include Queens of Syria (Young Vic/New London Theatre/West Yorkshire Playhouse/Everyman, Liverpool).
“A raw yet artful reminder of our common humanity… graceful, painful, unsentimental”
★★★★★ The Times (Queens of Syria)
Born in Jenin refugee camp during the first Intifada, Tobasi’s childhood was overshadowed by the Israeli occupation. After joining the armed resistance at the age of 17, Tobasi was shot during the ruthless invasion of his camp that saw friends and family murdered, and his home razed to the ground. After being arrested and incarcerated for four years in an Israeli desert prison, Tobasi eschewed pressure to return to armed resistance.
Instead he opted to continue fighting with art, leading him to political asylum in Norway whilst studying at the prestigious Nordic Black Theatre. In 2013 he returned to Jenin Refugee Camp, and to The Freedom Theatre, contributing to the local artistic movement which focused on using culture as a form of resistance.
Developing Artists is a registered charity working to support the arts in conflict nations and marginalised communities. The development of the project has been supported by The Shubbak Festival, Nordic Black Theatre, The British Council, Fritt Ord, The Freedom Theatre, Jenin Refugee Camp, Al Qattan Foundation and The Arab Fund For Arts and Culture.
UK TOUR DATES
Tue 27 – Wed 28 June Box Office: 01242 572573
Cheltenham, The Everyman Theatre Website: everymantheatre.org.uk
Fri 30 Jun – Sat 1 July Box Office: 023 8067 1771
Southampton, The Nuffield Theatre Website: nstheatres.co.uk
Thu 3 – Sat 8 July Box Office: 020 7503 1646
London, Arcola Theatre (Shubbak Festival) Website: arcolatheatre.com
Mon 10 – Tue 11 July Box Office: 0843 208 6000
Salford, The Lowry (Shubbak Festival) Website: thelowry.com
Wed 12 July Box Office: 0151 709 4988
Liverpool, The Unity Theatre (Shubbak Festival) Website: unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk
Fri 14 – Sat 15 July Box Office: 01392 434169
Exeter, The Bike Shed Theatre (Part of the Boat Shed Festival) Website: bikeshedtheatre.co.uk
Mon 17 – Tue 18 July Box Office: 0131 220 4348
Edinburgh, Assembly Rooms Website: assemblyroomsedinburgh.co.uk
Wed 19 July Box Office: 01865 319450
Oxford, The North Wall Website: thenorthwall.com
Thu 20 & Fri 21 July Box Office: 01223 300085
Cambridge, ADC Theatre Website: adctheatre.com
Sat 22 July Box Office: 0300 3033 211
Halesworth, The Cut Arts Centre Website: newcut.org