AHMED TOBASI 

 

LEAD ARTISTIC ASSOCIATE

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Ahmed Tobasi is an actor, director, and cultural leader from Palestine. 

 

Born in Jenin Refugee Camp during the 1st Intifada, Tobasi grew up amidst the challenges of occupation and displacement, experiences that profoundly shaped his worldview and artistic vision. In 2002 during the 2nd Intifada and intensive invasions by Israel, Tobasi was left with no choice but to join the armed resistance. At 17 years old, after being shot, he was taken by the Israeli army and held for four years in a prison camp in the desert. 

 

Upon his release, Tobasi became an acting student at The Freedom Theatre, an artistic venue that uses culture as a form of resistance. However, unable to feel safe in Palestine, he took political asylum in 2009 in Norway, gaining a place at the prestigious Nordic Black Theatre school. Tobasi went on to join their professional company performing in productions in Norway, Morocco, Spain and Poland

 

In 2013, Tobasi moved back to Jenin Refugee Camp, becoming the coordinator for the Child and Youth Program and sparking an artistic fever amongst the younger generations. Between 2019 to 2024, Tobasi was the Artistic Director at The Freedom Theatre, which was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize during his leadership. 

 

Performing in award-winning productions in Palestine and around the world, Tobasi worked with writer Hassan Abdulrazzak and director Zoe Lafferty to create a solo show based on his life story. And Here I Am has become a globally renowned production and the most widely toured Palestinian show in history, continuing to be presented worldwide nine years after its premiere. Other highlights include performing in The Siege touring Palestine, the UK and Metro Gaza, which won the MESS Festival 2024 Jury award and has toured Palestine, Tunisia, Iraq, Switzerland, France and Serbia.  

 

As a director, he focuses on creating work with and for young audiences in Palestine and worldwide. His production The Elephant won Best overall show at the Palestinian National Theatre Festival and Best Director at the Baghdad Capital for Arab Youth Festival.

  

A Lead Artistic Associate at Artists On The Frontline, Tobasi collaborates across multiple projects, including And Here I Am, In A Thousand Silences, Snapshots From Childhood, The Revolution's Promise, Mayday, the Youth Exchange in Catalunya, co-leading the Youth Associates and leading workshops on cultural resistance from Palestine.