The North East's first Theatre Company of Sanctuary, Curious Monkey, has a new show from a young disabled artist about his journey from a village in the Syrian mountains to taking the stage in his new hometown on Tyneside, via the Za'atari refugee camp where he was first introduced to theatre.
Hamzeh Al Hussien is a disabled theatre-maker who arrived in Gateshead five years ago as part of the UK’s Syrian Resettlement Programme. He trained with a Spanish NGO in physical theatre and performed in various productions.
In 2018, he joined the Arriving project, Curious Monkey’s ongoing creative project for people seeking sanctuary. He recently graduated from Gateshead College with a Higher National Diploma in Performing Arts.
Penguin is Hamzeh's professional debut solo show, touring to Newcastle, London, Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield from September to November.
Hamzeh Al Hussien’s story takes audiences on a tour of the places he knows best: his village in the Syrian mountains, the Za’atari camp in Jordan, his home in Gateshead and inside his mind: a place full of music, dancing, fantasies and marbles.