Shubbak Festival

Shubbak Festival Shubbak: A Window From Contemporary Arab Cultures
www.shubbak.co.uk www.shubbak.co.uk

Shubbak supports and champions the diversity of Arab artists' creativity and innovation through its biennial London festival, professional and engagement programmes, and national touring.

16/09/2026

On 31 July, Shubbak took over Friday Late at V&A South Kensington to mark fifteen years of artistic exchange, collective imagination and Arab and SWANA cultural presence across the UK.

Across the museum, artists working across performance, music, installation, fashion, food, conversation and digital practice approached the body as a site of memory, resistance, pleasure, knowledge sharing and possibility.

From synths from Syria and a DJ set from Sudan, to an imagined ancestors from Iran, a counter-catwalk catwalk, a feast of Levantine baking and a VR ritual against the evil eye, and an entire universe birthed from the natural archive of a single seed, the evening brought together practices that moved across disciplines, geographies and generations.

Co-curated by Shubbak and the V&A, the takeover offered a space to celebrate fifteen years of work while imagining what might come next.

📹

Today, we join Good Chance and 10 other brilliant venues and organisations across the UK for the launch of — a trainin...
10/09/2026

Today, we join Good Chance and 10 other brilliant venues and organisations across the UK for the launch of — a training initiative supporting creatives from displaced backgrounds to build careers in the arts industry.

As part of the programme, we’re happy to announce that we’ll be recruiting a Trainee Assistant Producer to join the Shubbak team for a three-month placement.

We’re proud to be part of a programme that creates meaningful routes into the arts for people with lived experience of displacement and seeking asylum.

Image two ©️ Richard Jarmy

A look back at the first evening of 63 Days of Sit-In at Theatro Technis, presented as part of Shubbak Festival.Although...
05/09/2026

A look back at the first evening of 63 Days of Sit-In at Theatro Technis, presented as part of Shubbak Festival.
Although Hamad Samamrah was unexpectedly unable to perform due to illness, the evening continued with a screening of the documentary, followed by a conversation with Hussam Ghosheh of Basta Theatre Collective and Alia Alzougbi of Shubbak.
The touch tour also went ahead as planned, welcoming audiences to experience and engage with the space ahead of the screening.
Thank you to everyone who joined us, and to our audiences for their understanding and support.
63 Days of Sit-In is based on the true story of a 63-day sit-in led by Palestinian disability rights activists inside the Palestinian Legislative Council during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Day 2 — 5 September
Theatro Technis, London
7:30pm
For updates on tonight’s performance, please check our stories.
Tickets via the link in bio.

Accessibility is an essential part of the UK premiere of 63 Days of Sit-In, coming to Shubbak Festival at Theatro Techni...
04/09/2026

Accessibility is an essential part of the UK premiere of 63 Days of Sit-In, coming to Shubbak Festival at Theatro Technis on 4 & 5 September 2026.

We want audiences to feel welcome, supported and able to experience the performance in ways that work for them.

Created by Palestinian theatre collective Basta Theatre, 63 Days of Sit-In is based on the true story of a 63-day sit-in led by Palestinian disability rights activists inside the Palestinian Legislative Council during the COVID-19 pandemic. Performed by Hamad Samamrah, one of the sit-in’s leaders, the work brings lived experience and documentary theatre to the stage.

Access provisions include:

The performance is in Arabic with English captions.

The 4 September performance will include audio description, preceded by a touch tour.

Both performances are relaxed performances, creating a more flexible and welcoming environment for audiences.

Theatro Technis is fully wheelchair accessible, with a hearing loop in the main hall.

Guide and hearing dogs are welcome, and companion tickets are available.

If you have access requirements or would like to discuss how we can support your visit, please contact [email protected].

4 & 5 September 2026
7:30pm
Theatro Technis, London
Age guidance: 13+

Tickets via the link in bio.

63 Days of Sit-In was developed with the support of the Disability Under Siege (DUS) Network, University of Birmingham and British Council Palestine through the Jerusalem Creative Spaces programme. The London presentation is supported by British Council, Wijhat (an initiative of Al Mawred Al Thaqafy – Culture Resource), Sync Leadership and Dais Hale.

04/09/2026

The UK premiere of 63 Days of Sit-In is coming to at Theatro Technis on 4 & 5 September. In true Palestinian steadfastness, persevering through visa issues in 2025 and all travel restrictions.

Created by Palestinian theatre collective .theatre , 63 Days of Sit-In is based on the true story of the 63-day sit-in led by Palestinian disability rights activists inside the Palestinian Legislative Council during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Performed by Hamad Samamrah, one of the sit-in’s leaders, the work brings together lived experience and documentary theatre to transform a real civic movement into a powerful theatrical experience.
The accompanying documentary follows the journey of transforming the sit-in into a theatre performance.
Age guidance: 13+

🎟 Book tickets: link in bio

Access: The performance is in Arabic with English captions. The 4 September performance includes audio description, preceded by a touch tour. Both performances are relaxed. Theatro Technis is fully wheelchair accessible, with guide and hearing dogs welcome, a loop system in the main hall, and companion tickets available.

63 Days of Sit-In was developed with the support of the Disability Under Siege (DUS) Network, University of Birmingham and British Council Palestine through the Jerusalem Creative Spaces programme. The London presentation is supported by British Council, Wijhat (an initiative of Al Mawred Al Thaqafy – Culture Resource), Sync Leadership and Dais Hale.

02/09/2026

The UK premiere of 63 Days of Sit-In is coming to at Theatro Technis on 4 & 5 September. In true Palestinian steadfastness, persevering through visa issues in 2025 and all travel restrictions.

Created by Palestinian theatre collective .theatre , 63 Days of Sit-In is based on the true story of the 63-day sit-in led by Palestinian disability rights activists inside the Palestinian Legislative Council during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Performed by Hamad Samamrah, one of the sit-in’s leaders, the work brings together lived experience and documentary theatre to transform a real civic movement into a powerful theatrical experience.
The accompanying documentary follows the journey of transforming the sit-in into a theatre performance.
Age guidance: 13+

🎟 Book tickets: https://www.shubbak.co.uk/63-days-of-sit-in-2/

Access: The performance is in Arabic with English captions. The 4 September performance includes audio description, preceded by a touch tour. Both performances are relaxed. Theatro Technis is fully wheelchair accessible, with guide and hearing dogs welcome, a loop system in the main hall, and companion tickets available.

63 Days of Sit-In was developed with the support of the Disability Under Siege (DUS) Network, University of Birmingham and British Council Palestine through the Jerusalem Creative Spaces programme. The London presentation is supported by British Council, Wijhat (an initiative of Al Mawred Al Thaqafy – Culture Resource), Sync Leadership and Dais Hale.

Stay with us after 63 Days of Sit-In on 5 September for a post-show Q&A.Following the performance and screening of the a...
25/08/2026

Stay with us after 63 Days of Sit-In on 5 September for a post-show Q&A.

Following the performance and screening of the accompanying documentary film, join us for a 30-minute public Q&A with Hamad Samamra and Hussam Ghosheh ( ), the artists who contributed to the creation and development of the work across its different stages.

A chance to hear more about the work, its origins, the lived experiences and stories that shaped it, and the process of bringing 63 Days of Sit-In from lived experience to stage and screen.

The evening:
→ 40-minute performance
→ 35 minute documentary film screening
→ 10 minute break
→ 30-minute Q&A

63 Days of Sit-In, from Basta Theatre Collective (Basta Theatre ), is based on the 63-day sit-in staged by Palestinian disability rights activists inside the Palestinian Legislative Council during the COVID-19 pandemic, demanding the implementation of disability rights legislation and equal access to healthcare and public services.

📅 5 September 2026
📍 Theatro Technis, London
🎟️ Tickets via the link in bio
Age guidance: 13+

Access: The performance is in Arabic with English captions. The performance on 4 September includes audio description, preceded by a touch tour. Both performances are relaxed. Theatro Technis is fully wheelchair accessible, with guide and hearing dogs welcome, a loop system in the main hall.

Please get in touch with [email protected] if you require a companion ticket.

IMAGES: (2 Khawla Darsalim), (3-4 Ikhlas Sawalha), (5 Nikos Kanistras)

63 Days of Sit-In was developed with the support of the Disability Under Siege (DUS) Network, University of Birmingham and British Council Palestine through the Jerusalem Creative Spaces programme. The London presentation is supported by British Council, Wijhat (an initiative of Al Mawred Al Thaqafy – Culture Resource), Sync Leadership and Dais Hale.

Meet the artists currently bringing 63 Days of Sit-In to the stage.This September, the work arrives at Theatro Technis (...
21/08/2026

Meet the artists currently bringing 63 Days of Sit-In to the stage.

This September, the work arrives at Theatro Technis (Theatro Technis @ 26 Crowndale )as part of Shubbak’s year-round programme, alongside a screening of the accompanying documentary film and a post-show conversation on 5 September.

Created by Palestinian theatre collective Basta (Basta Theatre ), 63 Days of Sit-In draws on lived experience, interviews and archival material to revisit the 63-day sit-in led by Palestinian disability rights activists inside the Palestinian Legislative Council.

Blurring theatre, testimony and political memory, the work brings a vital story of resistance, rights and collective action to the stage.

More about the artists: https://www.shubbak.co.uk/63-days-of-sit-in-2/

4 & 5 September 2026
Theatro Technis, London
Age guidance: 13+

🎟️ Tickets: https://www.shubbak.co.uk/63-days-of-sit-in-2/

تعرّفوا على الفنانين الذين يقدّمون «63 يومًا من الاعتصام» حاليًا على خشبة المسرح.

في سبتمبر، يُقدَّم العمل في Theatro Technis ضمن برنامج شُبّاك على مدار العام، إلى جانب عرض الفيلم الوثائقي المصاحب، وحوار بعد العرض يوم 5 سبتمبر.

من إنتاج التعاونية المسرحية الفلسطينية البسطة، يستند 63 يومًا من الاعتصام إلى شهادات وتجارب معاشة، ومقابلات ومواد أرشيفية، ليستعيد قصة الاعتصام الذي استمر 63 يومًا، وقاده نشطاء فلسطينيون من ذوي الإعاقة داخل المجلس التشريعي الفلسطيني.

يمزج العمل بين المسرح، الشهادة والذاكرة السياسية، ليعيد إلى الواجهة قصة النضال من أجل الحقوق والعمل الجماعي.

المزيد عن الفنانين:
https://www.shubbak.co.uk/63-days-of-sit-in-2/

4 و5 سبتمبر 2026
Theatro Technis، لندن
التصنيف العمري: 13 عامًا فما فوق

🎟️ التذاكر
https://www.shubbak.co.uk/63-days-of-sit-in-2/

63 Days of Sit-In was developed with the support of the Disability Under Siege (DUS) Network, University of Birmingham and British Council Palestine through the Jerusalem Creative Spaces programme. The London presentation is supported by British Council, Wijhat (an initiative of Al Mawred Al Thaqafy – Culture Resource), Sync Leadership and Dais Hale.

Mustafa Al Sous (Mostafa al sous ) came had his UK debut at Shubbak Festival 2025, straight after graduating from the ex...
21/08/2026

Mustafa Al Sous (Mostafa al sous ) came had his UK debut at Shubbak Festival 2025, straight after graduating from the extraordinary ( Creative Space Beirut ),having spotted his distinctive touch and talent.

Now, the Lebanon-born designer and textile artist is bringing ATHR to London’s ( Palestine House 🇵🇸 ) Palestine House for a night of fashion and fundraising with Runway Fundraiser: Our Families Between the Lines.

A proud full-circle moment — and a chance to see how Mostafa is continuing to craft a practice and a brand with impact.

Mustafa Al Sous / ATHR
Runway Fundraiser: Our Families Between the Lines
📍 Palestine House
Friday 21 August · 7pm

THANK YOU FOR CELEBRATING 15 YEARS OF SHUBBAK WITH US. شكرًا على مشاركتنا إحتفاءا بمرور خمسة عشر عاما على مهرجان شُبّاك....
04/08/2026

THANK YOU FOR CELEBRATING 15 YEARS OF SHUBBAK WITH US. شكرًا على مشاركتنا إحتفاءا بمرور خمسة عشر عاما على مهرجان شُبّاك.

Thank you to everyone who joined us at V&A South Kensington to mark 15 years of Shubbak Festival.
We’ve come a long way in that time. Seeing the Victoria and Albert Museum bursting at the seams with friends old and new, brought together by a desire to experience excellence in Arab & SWANA arts and culture, was a beautiful sight to behold.

Our co-curated evening with the V&A felt like a one-night festival, with so much happening across the space at once. From Kazna Asker ’s Yemeni henna celebration echoing through the courtyard, to Yasmeen | ياسمين ‘s cultural and sensory exploration of the mighty nigella seed, TootArd توت أرض ’s live sets against the backdrop of the Raphael Cartoons, and so much more, we came together in a new space to experience works that challenged us, delighted us and constructed alternative narratives that reach beyond the present moment.

Take a look back at some of our favourite moments from the night, and stay with us over the coming days as we spotlight each activation and the incredible artists who brought the evening to life.

Our official wrap-up is still to come.

©️Photography by Daniaal Khalid Dan K with thanks.
🔗 Discover ~BECOME A FRIEND OF SHUBBAK~ via the link in our bio.

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