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
Cheltenham, The Everyman Theatre everymantheatre.org.uk
Fri 30 Jun – Sat 1 July
Southampton, The Nuffield Theatre
Thu 3 – Sat 8 July
London, Arcola Theatre (Shubbak Festival)
Mon 10 – Tue 11 July
Salford, The Lowry (Shubbak Festival)
Wed 12 July
Liverpool, The Unity Theatre (Shubbak Festival)
Fri 14 – Sat 15 July
Exeter, The Bike Shed Theatre (Part of the Boat Shed Festival)
Mon 17 – Tue 18 July
Edinburgh, Assembly Rooms
Wed 19 July
Oxford, The North Wall
Thu 20 & Fri 21 July
Cambridge, ADC Theatre
Sat 22 July
Halesworth, The Cut Arts Centre
View from the Cheap Seat 