Jeddah, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
Award-winning Saudi–UAE based theatre director, cultural strategist, and international arts educator with over two decades of experience across Europe, the Middle East, and the United States. Specialist in theatre as a catalyst for cultural innovation, diplomacy, and social impact, with a focus on Arab theatre and creating space for women and Arab voices, particularly in relation to displaced communities and human rights. Founder and Artistic Director of Danú Dubai, an intercultural theatre company recognised for advancing contemporary theatre in the UAE, and the first theatre director to be awarded an honorary UAE Golden Visa for contributions to building the theatre sector in Dubai. Winner of multiple awards, including a Time Out Award for Best Theatre Production, the Pearson Edexcel Award for Best Theatre Department in the UAE and a national tolerance award. Work acknowledged by the UAE Ministry of Education, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Tolerance, and Dubai government entities. Recognised as an advocate for tolerance, inclusion, and intercultural dialogue. Work has featured internationally in BBC, RTÉ, Aarhus Press, and The Irish Times, as well as leading Middle Eastern publications including Khaleej Times, Gulf Times, and Ahlan. Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA). Professional experience includes living and working in Paris, Rome, New York, Dublin, California, Dubai, and Saudi Arabia. Travel to over ninety countries reflects a sustained commitment to cultural exchange. Experience includes high-trust cultural contexts, including commissioned projects and advisory roles for senior stakeholders and high-profile individuals. A life-long learner with five university degrees and an additional two in progress, across politics, theatre, arts management, and education. Currently, a doctoral candidate. A lover of languages, speaking six, including Irish.
• Founded Danu Dubai in 2013, helping pioneer independent contemporary theatre in the Gulf. • Directed and produced 30+ productions across the UAE, many sold out and remounted due to demand. • Winner of the Time Out Dubai Award for Best Production; multiple additional nominations and awards alongside visiting West End and Broadway productions. • Internationally recognised through reviews/features in BBC, RTÉ, The Irish Times, Les Cahiers Élisabéthains, The Korean Annual Theatre Review, Aarhus Press, Magpie Arts, Ahlan! and UAE media. • Recognised by Magpie Arts as one of the Gulf region’s most influential creatives. • Featured in academic publications including Shakespeare on the Arabian Peninsula by Catherine Hennessy. • Received the first honorary Golden Visa for theatre from the Government of Dubai. • Invited by the Government of Ireland and Irish Embassy to curate/direct productions for the official 1916 Irish Centenary Commemorations in the UAE, including performances attended by HE Sh. Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan. • Led artistic direction, fundraising, sponsorship, budgeting and production management across major intercultural productions. • Championed Arab, Emirati and female voices on stage; staged works by Palestinian, Lebanese, Iraqi, Syrian and Kuwaiti playwrights. • Landmark productions included: - A Doll's House rewritten in a Gulf setting with Emirati actors. -Al Hamlet Summit by Sulayman Al-Bassam, professionally reviewed in Les Cahiers Élisabéthains. - I Am Yusuf and This Is My Brother by Amir Nizar Zuabi. - My Name Is Rachel Corrie. - Productions of Samuel Beckett, Martin McDonagh, Brian Friel, Enda Walsh, Marina Carr and John B. Keane. Created original works including A Birkin Hair and SaharCasm with Sudanese-Irish artist Sahara Ali. • Donated proceeds to Arab cultural and youth organisations, including youth theatre initiatives in Ramallah, cancer programmes, the Emirates Red Crescent and the Palestine Children's Relief Fund.
I have been deeply engaged with the International Baccalaureate (IB), recognised globally as the gold standard of international education. The IB is an academically rigorous framework that fosters critical thinking, intercultural understanding and holistic development, preparing students to become responsible global citizens and future leaders. My IB roles and achievements include: Serving as an IB Diploma Programme Theatre teacher and MYP Drama teacher, delivering both practical and theoretical theatre education. Acting as an Extended Essay moderator and Personal Project moderator, ensuring fairness and quality in IB assessment. Consistently achieving exceptional results: across my tenure as a teacher, all IB Theatre students scored 5 or above, with up to 50% each year achieving the maximum 7. My MYP Drama results were equally strong, reflecting sustained excellence. Completing official IB Theatre training at Category 1, 2 and 3 levels and hosting IB teacher training sessions on multiple occasions. Supporting colleagues within the GEMS Education network, guiding teachers across the Gulf in theatre education, curriculum development and the growth of drama programmes in their schools. Ensuring theatre was a popular and inclusive subject wherever I taught. I prioritised access for all, including students with specific needs, and provided one-to-one support to help each student succeed. For me, theatre in the IB is not simply about grades but about transformation. Theatre challenges students to see the world differently, develop empathy and grow as holistic learners. It builds creativity, collaboration, resilience and communication, helping young people to become thoughtful global citizens with the confidence to lead, inspire and contribute to positive change.
As Head of Drama at Dubai American Academy (2011–2023), I led initiatives that positioned the department among the most recognised in the region. Named Best Drama Department in the UAE at the 2022–2023 EdExcel Awards. Expanded the programme to over 250 students annually, developing electives in Devising, Acting, Improvisation, Public Speaking, Contemporary Practice and Musical Theatre. Contributed to annual KHDA “Outstanding” ratings, with DAA named the best American school in the UAE in 2023. Grew IB Drama from 5 to 40+ students, with over half achieving top “7” scores. Alumni advanced to universities including Harvard, Yale, Oxford, NYU, King’s, Berkeley and UCL. Directed 16 productions, including plays and musicals, providing professional-level performance opportunities. Introduced Arabic Theatre into the curriculum to reflect cultural diversity. Established student internships with Dubai theatres for industry experience. Partnered with the UN on disaster training and with the UAE Ministry of Education to create a “Masterpieces” arts centre. Led 46 students in a performance for H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and facilitated a student meeting with His Highness. Hosted the largest ISTA festival with 160 participants and ran IB training on five occasions. Organised international trips to Cambodia, Vietnam, Hong Kong, London, Athens, Copenhagen, Dublin and Paris. Advised the Model United Nations programme, strengthening student leadership and diplomacy. Launched charity partnerships, including with the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, embedding social responsibility. Welcomed visiting dignitaries, including the Ministers of Education of Monaco and the UAE, for classroom observations. These initiatives established DAA Drama as a benchmark of excellence in the arts, combining academic success, innovation and international recognition.
Supported the delivery of the UAE Ministry of Education’s Masterpieces programme for gifted and talented arts students across multiple editions. Sourced and coordinated venues for auditions, rehearsals, and weekly specialist training sessions, ensuring all logistical and operational requirements were met for both students and instructors. Organised weekly staffing and coordinated with catering teams to support the smooth running and hospitality logistics of the programme. Served as on-site manager throughout, working closely with Ministry project leads to oversee scheduling, operations, and the successful day-to-day delivery of activities. The Voice of Tolerance at La Perle (2019) Collaborated with the Dragone creative team on a major production presented under the patronage of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to mark the UAE’s Year of Tolerance initiative. Led and managed a delegation of 50 students from Dubai American Academy who played a central role in the performance. Coordinated rehearsal logistics and secured rehearsal venues for the cast and creative teams. Assisted Dragone artistic staff during rehearsals to support artistic preparation and performance development. Liaised with the UAE Ministry of Education on planning, logistics, scheduling, and event coordination to ensure the successful delivery of the production.
Contributed to the planning, coordination, and development of cultural programming initiatives connected to Expo 2020 Dubai, including stakeholder liaison, cross-cultural collaboration, and early-stage project development within an international cultural framework. Supported initiatives focused on community engagement, local participation, and education outreach, helping to connect cultural programming with schools, young people, and wider audiences across the UAE. Worked alongside cultural partners and institutions in supporting dialogue, artistic exchange, and programming concepts linked to the wider Expo vision.