By Alaa Shehada
Produced by Troupe Courage (Netherlands)
N. American Tour Produced by 55B Productions
IMPORTANT UPDATE on the U.S. tour of The Horse of Jenin by Alaa Shehada
The live U.S. tour of The Horse of Jenin was planned for 7 cities in Spring 2026, but when he returned to the U.S. for a performance, Alaa was denied entry as a result of the government’s continued targeting of Palestinians. He was traveling on a valid O1-B visa granted to individuals recognized for extraordinary ability in the arts. The U.S. has since issued a ban on entry for individuals traveling on Palestinian Authority documentation.
We refuse to let border restrictions, discrimination, and an attack on free speech silence Alaa’s story. We’ve turned the live tour into a virtual tour. Screenings of The Horse of Jenin will happen in person across U.S. cities this spring with a variety of community engagement events. In Alaa’s words, “I cannot give up.”
Join us at a screening in your city to bear witness to The Horse of Jenin - a living resistance, a memory that refuses erasure.
The Horse of Jenin
Written and performed by: Alaa Shehada
Directors: Katrien van Beurden and Thomas van Ouwerkerk
Stand-Up Comedy Consultant/Co-writer: Sam Beale
Masks: Den Durand
Music: Remy van Kesteren, Khalil Al Batran
Dramaturgy: Maarten Bos
Technical Designer: Roderick Bredenoord
Artistic Associate: Sacha Muller
Production Photography: Kamerich & Budwilowitz
Poster Photography: Dario&Misja photography
Trailer: David Koster
Artwork Featured in Trailer: Thomas Kilpper
Company Manager Troupe Courage: Monique Bos
North American Tour Producer: Jenny Tibbels, 55B Productions
The U.S. premiere of The Horse of Jenin was originally presented by La MaMa during Under the Radar Festival 2025, and co-produced by GOH Productions and 55B Productions.
The Horse of Jenin
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Thursday, April 2 - Saturday, April 4, 2026 @ 7pm, 2pm matinee on Sat.
Presented by: Boom Arts
Location: Portland Center Stage
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Tuesday, April 7, 2026 @ 7pm
Presented by: Studio Theatre in partnership with the Laboratory For Global Performance & Politics
Location: Studio Theatre
Wednesday, April 8, 2026 @ 7pm
Presented by: Studio Theatre in partnership with the Laboratory For Global Performance & Politics (DC)
Location: Intercultural Center (ICC) Auditorium at Georgetown University at 3700 O St. NW Washington, DC 20057
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Thursday, April 9 and Thursday, April 16, 2026 @ 8pm
Co-presented by: Golden Thread Productions and Crowded Fire Theater, in partnership with Art2Action
Location: Portrero Stage
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Sunday, April 19, 2026
Presented by: University of Massachusetts Amherst / College Pan Asian Network Spring Symposium
Location: Hampshire College 893 West St, Amherst, MA 01002
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Saturday, May 16, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Co-presented by: Dunya Productions and Donkeysaddle Projects (Seattle)
Location: Cherry Street Village, 720 25th Ave. Seattle, WA 98122
The live U.S. tour of The Horse of Jenin was planned for 7 cities in Spring 2026, but when he returned to the U.S. for a performance, Alaa was denied entry as a result of the government’s continued targeting of Palestinians. He was traveling on a valid O1-B visa granted to individuals recognized for extraordinary ability in the arts. The U.S. has since issued a ban on entry for individuals traveling on Palestinian Authority documentation.
We refuse to let border restrictions, discrimination, and an attack on free speech silence Alaa’s story. We’ve turned the live tour into a virtual tour. Screenings of The Horse of Jenin will happen in person across U.S. cities this spring with a variety of community engagement events. In Alaa’s words, “I cannot give up.”
Credits
About
Virtual Tour
“The horse in Arabic is a symbol of freedom. But to us, this horse is much more. This horse is us.”
Built from the debris of a major invasion, the Horse of Jenin sculpture became a constant presence in Alaa’s life growing up in Occupied Palestine. It stood proudly in the center of the city for twenty years, symbolizing hope and resistance.
Then, on October 29, 2023, an Israeli bulldozer entered the city, ripping the sculpture from its place — and from its people. Now, Alaa is left wondering… What happened to the horse?
Combining storytelling, mask, and stand-up comedy, The Horse of Jenin is constructed from the fragments of Palestinian actor and comedian Alaa Shehada’s own memories and stands as an ode to the power of imagination and the resilience it brings.
The Horse of Jenin
By Alaa Shehada
Produced by Troupe Courage (Netherlands)
N. American Tour Produced by 55B Productions
The U.S. premiere of The Horse of Jenin was originally presented by La MaMa during Under the Radar Festival 2025, and co-produced by GOH Productions and 55B Productions.
Written & Performed by: Alaa Shehada
Directors: Katrien van Beurden and Thomas van Ouwerkerk
Stand-Up Comedy Consultant/Co-writer: Sam Beale
Masks: Den Durand
Music: Remy van Kesteren, Khalil Al Batran
Dramaturgy: Maarten Bos
Technical Designer: Roderick Bredenoord
Artistic Associate: Sacha Muller
Production Photography: Kamerich & Budwilowitz
Poster Photography: Dario&Misja photography
Trailer: David Koster
Artwork featured in Trailer: Thomas Kilpper
Company Manager Troupe Courage: Monique Bos
North American Tour Producer: Jenny Tibbels, 55B Productions
About the Artist
Alaa Shehada is a Palestinian theatre maker, actor, and stand-up comedian. A graduate of The Freedom Theatre Acting School in Jenin Refugee Camp – an institution nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2024 – Shehada uses humor and storytelling to amplify Palestinian experiences on global stages.
His critically acclaimed solo show The Horse of Jenin offers a moving and humorous reflection on his upbringing in Jenin and won the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe First Award.
As a co-founder of The Palestine Comedy Club, Alaa has developed a pioneering platform for Palestinian comedians to share their stories, humor, and culture. Their journey is featured in the award-winning documentary Palestine Comedy Club which premiered at DOC NYC and SXSW London, winning the Spirit of Raindance Award in 2025.
Beyond the stage, Shehada serves as a Clown Doctor with Red Noses International in the West Bank and leads theatre workshops throughout Palestine and abroad. He has performed on 5 continents and collaborated with renowned directors such as Amir Nizar Zuabi, Di Trevis, and Katrien van Beurden. He performed with comedian Bassem Youssef and held a TEDx London talk with comedian Nish Kumar.
His previous honors include the Jury Award at the International Festival of Liberal Theatre in Jordan (2019), Best Show at the Palestinian National Theatre Festival (2018), and Best Script Co-Writer for London Jenin (2019).
Press photo by Dario & Misja photography
Production photos by Kamerich & Budwilowitz
