Biographies
Reem Almenhali (Director)
Reem is an Emirati performance artist and a theater practitioner. Reem received a B.A in Theater with a minor in Psychology from New York University Abu Dhabi. Reem co-created Amulets of Palm with her collaborator Maitha Al-Suwaidi and showed it in Alserkal Avenue as part of their More Than Human festival. The performance used poetic and visual forms of fiction to capture the palm as a mystical soul, an abundant ground, and an entity. The performance later developed into a short film that was screened in Basel, Switzerland as part of the public programming of Art Basel. For Deliberately and in Cash, Reem wrote and directed the performance lecture on the history of the practice of collecting Diya money in the Gulf. Reem also wrote Al Raheel | Departure, and co-created the performance in collaboration with the director Joanna Settle. The performance is a bilingual contemporary theater piece that explores how the rapidly evolving life in the UAE and its bilingual reality are experienced by women of different generations. Al Raheel was produced by The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi and was co-commissioned by Cultural Foundation in 2019, and received official support of the US Mission to the UAE in 2022. Reem won the 2020 Gulf Capital ADMAF Creativity Award for writing Al Raheel.
Ahmed Almadloum (Playwright)
Ahmed Al-Madhloum is a diversely skilled Emirati writer and journalist renowned for his unique narrative style that seamlessly blends storytelling with satirical commentary, deep philosophical insights, and a passion for technological innovation. Writing for Emarat Al Youm newspaper, he crafts articles that delve into the intricacies of human behavior, societal issues, and the subtle nuances of everyday life, often drawing from his personal experiences. His work includes investigative pieces that shed light on overlooked stories and hidden facets of society.
Ahmed's knowledge in different forms of literature informs his innovative approach to reimagining the art of writing. He skillfully integrates concepts into his creative works and literature, constantly seeking new paths and experimenting with different formats and perspectives. This fusion allows him to engage readers in fresh and unexpected ways, challenging conventional norms.
In addition to his journalistic endeavors, Ahmed has penned several short stories published in various outlets, showcasing his versatility and creativity as a writer. His reflective and sometimes critical tone encourages readers to think deeply about their own lives and the world they inhabit. Through his distinctive blend of storytelling, satire, and philosophical inquiry, Ahmed Al-Madhloum has established himself as a singular voice committed to enriching the cultural landscape and fostering a deeper understanding of the human experience
Aida Allowch (Producer)
Aida Allowch holds a Bachelor's degree in Production Arts from Sharjah Performing Arts Academy and a training certificate in Stage Management from Dubai Opera. She has worked on internationally acclaimed shows such as The Lion King the Musical, Shrek the Musical, Mamma Mia the Musical, Urinetown the Musical, and Nimrod, written by His Highness Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasmi. Additionally, she has experience as a trainer in Production and Stage Management in both Arabic and English.
Metha Naser Alsaeedi (Creative Consultant)
Metha is a poet, writing in Nabati, Fusha (classical Arabic poetry), and Nathir (free-verse/prose), which will soon be published as part of her creative startup, Nathir Arts (Instagram: @artofnathir). Metha has been the Kawader Fellow at The NYUAD Art Gallery from September 2021 to August 2024, and holds a Bachelor’s of Arts in Art and Art History from New York University Abu Dhabi. Previously, she served as Coordinator for Expo 2020 Dubai’s cultural and educational programming, including a book-length publication, and UAE-wide outreach initiatives of Expo’s opera commission.
Ruqaya Alhashimi (Set Designer)
Ruqaya is an Emirati architect and creative force with a Bachelor's degree in Architecture from Abu Dhabi University. Ruqaya was one of the winners of Abu Dhabi Art Pavilion Prize in 2021. However, Ruqaya’s talents are not confined to architecture alone. Describing herself as a free creative, Ruqaya resists the limitations of titles like designer, artist, or architect, finding them too constraining for her expansive skill set. Her love for creation and travel has fueled a multifaceted interest in design. With her strong foundation in architectural principles, Ruqaya is planning to delve into set design for theatrical productions, bringing along her unique expertise in spatial relationships and materials. Her flexibility and array of skills, ranging from familiarity with various design materials and tools to an innate sense of aesthetics, make her a versatile talent in both real and imagined spaces.
Carlos Páez (Lighting Designer)
Carlos is a multidisciplinary theater artist and game designer. His work focuses on creating new realities where audience-participants explore new ways of being themselves and interacting with other humans and non-humans. Carlos has been involved in theater since the age of 13, performing in public venues with community groups in Venezuela and Abu Dhabi. Some of his recent works are After the Mountain Wildfires, a participatory live performance with a game-like structure presented at Dubai Expo 2020, and Dinos Rock, an immersive and interactive play for children. Carlos holds a BA in Theater from NYU Abu Dhabi and is currently an artist fellow in the Salama Bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Emerging Artists Fellowship.
Mad-Rabdan (Actor playing Jashaa)
Mad-Rabdan is an Emirati actor. Being the middle child of seven, cartoon films and drawing helped him express himself better. At the age of 18 he started screen acting. Soon after, he became involved with nonprofit theater companies in Abu Dhabi while finishing his Bachelors and Masters in Finance. In 2020, he completed a year of conservatoire training in France. His first major role was Hamad in season 2 and 3 of the Emirati series, the Platform. Mad plays the lead in the independent film, Heen.
Abdullah Al Qassab (Actor playing Hamour)
Abdullah Al Qassab is a dynamic expressionist known for his diverse contributions to the arts and public engagement. An accomplished actor, he has performed in theater and starred in films showcased at the Cannes Film Festival. Abdullah does stand-up comedy gigs. Abdullah is an engineer with a degree in Electronic engineering. He also holds a degree in psychology, which complements his mentoring and counseling initiatives.
Shahad Alsaqqaf (Actress playing Shabasa)
Shahad Alsaqqaf, an Emirati artist based in Abu Dhabi, is a poet, pianist, and performer. Her poetry serves as an ode to the world’s beauty and its creator, delving into the essence of the human experience. Fluent in both Arabic and English, she seamlessly blends languages in her writing and storytelling. She has performed in domestic and international venues, including NYU Tisch, the Nuyorican Poets Cafe in New York, and Rooftop Rhythms and Hekayah at The Arts Center in Abu Dhabi, showcasing her spoken word artistry. With a diverse background in the performing arts, she has acted in an improvisational act at London’s BRIT School, co-written and starred in the Real AD show at NYU Abu Dhabi, and engaged in public speaking through her work as a reporter at Majid Kids TV.
Spencer Hogg (Sound designer)
Spencer is a multidisciplinary Artist with an established practice in Sculpture, Installation, Photography, Moving Image, Sound, and Performance. Spencer holds an MA in Fine Art (Distinction (D-PG)) from Falmouth University in the United Kingdom. As a global citizen who has resided outside his country of origin for the last 25 years, Spencer's practice explores the complexities of place, movement, and belonging. As someone who exists in a temporary and transient state, what does it mean to be in outer space within a place? Spencer's creative outcomes have been exhibited at Art Institutions and Festivals globally including at Sharjah Art Foundation, Lulea International Film Festival - Sweden, Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, The Whirled Cinema - London, Ras Al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival, Tashkeel - Dubai and Sikka Art and Design Festival -Dubai. Spencer was an Artist in Residence at the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation in 2022/23 and a participant in the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Visiting Artist Programme from 2022/24 with Artist Kabir Mohanty.
Wadeema Al Hammadi (Costume Designer and Props Maker)
Wadeema Al Hammadi is an Emirati visual artist, known for her evocative large-scale site-specific installations, paintings, and mark-making techniques. A graduate of Zayed University and a fellow of The Salama bint Hamdan Emerging Artists Fellowship, Wadeema’s work is deeply influenced by childhood memories, psychological themes, and the blurred boundaries between reality and myth
Sarah Ahmed and Mansour AlHeera (Projection Designers)
Sarah Ahmed is a Networking & Security graduate, and a creative based in Abu Dhabi. She is the founder of Jaffat El Aqlam, co-founder of 7ijra Waraqa Miqas and AlReesha Studio Resident. You can find her urging every single person she ever meets to make zines, which she eventually heart-warmly adds to her collection. When she's not stressing out about meeting self-made deadlines, she experiments with different mediums of art, film photography, glitch art, sends postcards to strangers and publishes zines. Sarah enjoys storytelling and writing what she shamelessly started called children lit for grown ups.
Sarah’s work has been featured in Jaffat El Aqlam, Kayfa Ta, Mizna, Daftar Asfar, Focal Point, Brownbook, Banat Collective, Corniche publication, Al Tashkeel magazine and Souq Bawa. She has conducted workshops in Sharjah Art Foundation, Dubai Design Week, Cultural Foundation, Miza, 421, Safha, Diriyah Biennale and impromptu workshops with strangers whenever she felt like it.
Mansour AlHeera is an Emirati filmmaker and conceptual artist with a bachelor's degree in Film and Visual Studies from the California College of the Arts. He is also the co-founder of the film and video agency Do It Films. Mansour’s film work spans film theory, writing, and interactive installations. His artistic practice seeks 'newness' by blending various disciplines. He has worked as a contracted film consultant for multiple institutions and has served as a cultural bridge between the UAE and the USA. Notably, he organized the Smithsonian Folklife Festival during the year when the UAE’s culture was featured.
Abduallah Al-Jasmi (Translator)
Abduallah is an experienced bilingual (AR/EN) copywriter and a translator with over 5 years of experience in writing compelling, strategic cross-channel copy for several corporate and governmental clients in various sectors and FMCG and car brands. With a background in literature & philosophy, he loves dealing with the absurd and enjoys writing about art and literature. He spends his days thinking about what a fly’s diary would be and life from the point of view of a doorknob.
Rodha Al-Mazrouei (Props Master)
Rodha Al-Mazrouei is an Emirati visual artist born in 1998. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, specializing in Visual Arts, from Zayed University, and recently completed her fellowship at the Shaikha Salama Bint Hamdan Emerging Artist Fellowship. Her current practice includes painting, printmaking, mixed media and installation. She carries in her work a conversation with abstraction, where she connects in visual narratives emotions and various subjective and objective states of mind.
