New Directions in Somali Theatre: Hadsan, Suher, & Rebecca

In collaboration with Tower Hamlets Council, in this session, we will hear from creatives currently charting new paths in Somali theatre. The panel will feature Hadsan Mohamoud, an actor and writer from North-West London, and the playwright behind Crush; Suher Sofi, the founder of JanFirst Productions; and Rebecca Ortman, a freelance playwright and director currently working on a new opera inspired by the story of Arawelo. The panelists will share insight into their creative practices and inspirations, especially reflecting on how Somali storytelling practices inform their work, while also discussing how Somali theatre is adapting to meet the needs of new audiences.

Hadsan Mohamud is an actor and writer, who has trained with the National Youth Theatre, Orange Tree Theatre, and the Bush Theatre Young Company, and her writing has been supported by Kiln Theatre, Soho Writers Lab, and the London Library Emerging Writers Programme. Her debut play Crush will premiere this year at Somali Week Festival.

Suher Sofi is a British-Somali freelance producer and founder of JanFirst Productions. She produced the acclaimed play Desperate Times, works full-time in TV with credits at BBC Studios (The One Show, Amol Rajan Interviews, Life & Death Row etc), and is currently developing new projects, including her directorial debut premiering at SWF25.

Rebecca Örtman is a freelance playwright and director working across theatre and film for both young and adult audiences. Her work often centers girls and women in leading roles, exploring resistance within patriarchal structures. She studied directing at Malmö Theatre Academy, children's film at Stockholm University of the Arts, opera directing at the University College of Opera, and classical dance at the Royal Swedish Ballet School. Örtman is Artistic Director of Dramaqueen, producing audio drama, and was formerly Artistic Director of RATS Theatre (2009–2019). During this session, Örtman will present a preview from her storytelling opera Arawelo (music by Jonas Dominique). Inspired by Somali oral tradition and the writings of Nadifa Mohamed, Nuruddin Farah, and Hadraawi, Arawelo tells the story of a legendary woman who defies oppression and builds a matriarchy — a symbol of strength and resistance for girls and women today. This opera-in-progress is based on interviews with Somali women and men, connecting ancient myth with modern voices from the Somali diaspora in Sweden.

Event Host: Dr Christina Woolner, Artistic Director of Kayd and a social anthropologist whose research and award-winning book have illuminated the socio-political power of Somali music and poetry in Somaliland and the diaspora.

This event will be English.

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