The Horse of Jenin

Produced by Troupe Courage (Amsterdam)
U.S. Premiere Co-Pro 55B & GOH Productions
Presented by La MaMa
Part of Under the Radar 2025

After a major invasion of Jenin in April 2002, a German artist led an art workshop using the wreckage of bombed-out homes, cars, and ambulances. A giant sculpture of a horse was constructed, and as an Arabic symbol of freedom, the horse became the pride of Jenin. In November 2023, an Israeli bulldozer removed the horse. In this solo show, performer Alaa Shehada investigates: what happened to the horse? Was it arrested? Did they put it  in jail? And did it tell the story of what happened to his best friend Ahmed? Using fragments of his memories and humorous personal stories, Alaa builds a new horse that is a theatrical symbol of resistance, resilience, and the power of imagination.

January 9-10 @ 7:30pm
Saturday, January 11 @ 3:30pm & 7:30pm
Sunday, January 12 @ 3pm

Written and performed by Alaa Shehada
Directed by Katrien van Beurden and Thomas van Ouwerkerk
Stand-up comedy & script consultant Sam Beale
Masks Den Durand
Music Remy van Kesteren and Khalil Albatran
Dramaturgy Maarten Bos
Production support (Amsterdam) Monique Bos
Portrait Photography Dario & Misja 

Part of Under the Radar, the United States’ premier festival of experimental theater and performance art.

  • “Alaa’s performance had more impact on me than the thousands of images I’ve seen on TV or the news.”

    Noordhollands Dagbladource

  • “A symbol of freedom and resistance you may be able to destroy, the idea behind it you cannot.”

    NRC Handelsblad

  • "The captivating solo show effortlessly holds the full spectrum of what it means to be human..."

    Citlali Pizarro, 3Views

  • "Upending audience expectations is also at the heart of the Palestinian artist Alaa Shehada’s The Horse of Jenin.... Shehada highlights early on the difficulty of performing outside of Palestine when 'my standup comedy has turned into interesting comedy.'”

    Dan Rubins, SLANT 

About the Artist

Alaa Shehada is an actor and comedian who was educated at The Freedom Theatre Acting School in Jenin, Palestine, a company nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in February 2024. Alaa is a co-founder of The Palestine Comedy Club, a core member of Troupe Courage in Amsterdam, and a “Doctor-Clown” with Red Noses International. He toured extensively in the USA and Australia with Amir Nizar Zuabi’s Grey Rock (UTR 2020), a play about love and dreams in Palestine. He is a recipient of a Jury Award at the International Festival of Liberal Theatre in Jordan, Best Show at the Palestinian National Theatre Festival 2018, and Best Script Co-Writer 2019 for London Jenin. He is one of the few Palestinian men who is still unmarried.

Photos by Dario & Misja photography, Kamerich & Budwilowitz

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