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The horse of Jenin

Troupe Courage | Alaa Shehada
Theatre for Palestine
Fri 26 Sep 20:15 - 21:30
Fri 26 Sep 2025
20:15 - 21:30
  • Fri 26 Sep 2025
    20:15 - 21:30
    Theater aan het Spui, Den Haag
    Hall 2
    Past event

The horse of Jenin, written and performed by Palestinian actor and comedian Alaa Shehada, tells a universal story. It is about a boy growing up in Jenin, but like every child in the world, he most wants to play and have fun. It is a story about the resilience that imagination brings.

In April 2002, a major invasion took place in Jenin. In the aftermath, a German artist came over for an art workshop. After four weeks, with the help of 15 Palestinians, he unveiled the result: a horse as tall as 5 metres built from metal fragments and debris from the bombings. They rode the horse through the city and everyone was proud of it, people felt lifted by it.

The horse is an Arabic symbol of freedom, but this horse was also a symbol of peaceful resistance, of resilience. Last November 2023, an Israeli bulldozer entered the camp and the horse was removed. 

In this solo, Alaa wonders: what happened to the horse? Was it arrested? Did it go to court ? Was he able to defend himself? Did they put him in jail?

With this solo, Alaa builds a new horse: constructed from the fragments of his memories, supplemented with a huge dose of humour and imagination. A theatrical symbol of resistance and imagination.

Theatre for Palestine

This performance is part of a weekend-long programme in Theater aan het Spui around Palestine. We give the stage to the voices and stories of Palestinian (and Dutch) theatre makers, thus using the theatre as a place for solidarity, humanity and hope.

All proceeds from the ticket sales will be donated to the Palestinian Arts and Culture Solidarity Collective.

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In the media

Winner of the Fringe First Award 2025

BRITISH THEATRE GUIDE ★★★★★
“...one of the most important shows at this year’s Edinburgh festival.”

THE GUARDIAN ★★★★★
“This is a production that chooses to find joy amid horror.”

THE SCOTSMAN ★★★★★
"A terrific tale of Palestinian life, laughter and tragedy under unimaginable pressure.”

"A raw and unapologetic depiction of his life, where stand-up comedy, storytelling, and masks merge."
- Saman Amini, theatre maker / writer / comedian

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About Troupe Courage

Troupe Courage (formerly Theatre Hotel Courage) is an international acting collective that produces performances and conducts workshops worldwide. They create theater using archetypal masks to play characters from all walks of life, such as the old woman, the dictator, the playing child and the refugee. In a completely empty space with live music, the actors manage to enchant the audience with their transformations and bring collected stories to life in the imagination of the viewer.

About Alaa Shehada

Alaa Shehada (born 1991) is an actor and comedian from Jenin (West Bank). In 2014, he graduated from The Freedom Theatre. When Troupe Courage gave a workshop there in 2011, he immediately became a regular actor of the collective.

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Theatre for Palestine

In het laatste weekend van september staat Theater aan het Spui volledig in het teken van Palestina. We geven het podium aan de stemmen en verhalen van Palestijnse (en Nederlandse) theatermakers en ze…
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Non Dutchie Series at Het Nationale Theater

The Non-Dutchie Series is our handpicked selection of performances for which you do not need to understand Dutch. Discover a curated selection of ‘No Dutch Required’ theatre, together with others and for a special price!

No Dutch Required

Welcome to all our internationals and Anglophiles! Our No Dutch Required selection lists performances that are either English spoken, have English surtitles or that are without spoken text altogether.

Credits

performer/writer Alaa Shehada | director Katrien van Beurden, Thomas van Ouwerkerk | stand- up comedy & script guidance Sam Beale | masks Den Durand | music Remy van Kesteren, Khalil Al Batran | dramaturgy Maarten Bos | light design/technology Roderick Bredenoord | visual artist statue of the horse Thomas Kilpper | artistic core member Sacha Muller | business management Monique Bos | publicity Sarah Milo, Blyde | scene photos Kamerich & Budwilowitz | campaign photo Dario&Misja photography | poster designp Buro Fritz | trailer David Koster | special thanks to Valifonds,Voordekunst, de donateurs van de crowdfunding, Jacqueline Kleijn, Hugo Keuzenkamp, Tjipke Bergsma, Nan van Houte, Lucas Hendricks

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