Amir Nizar Zuabi (Director) is considered by his peers and theatre critics, to be one of the leading theatre directors in the Middle East. After graduating with honors from Israel’s prestigious Nissan Native Acting Studio, and attending workshops in France and Russia, Zuabi first cut his teeth directing “Stories Under Occupation” for Al Kasabah theatre in Ramallah. (Best Production - Cairo Theatre festival and Cartage festival). The show toured extensively, to wide acclaim, at the Royal Court London, Tokyo International Arts Festival, Goteborg Festival, amongst other destinations.
Other directing work includes: “When the World Was Green” by Sam Sheppard at the Young Vic. “In pergone con Wittgenstein” by Mariano Apria at the Teatro Collosseo.
In 2005, Zuabi staged “Jidariyya”, at the Palestinian National Theatre, a play based on a poem by Mahmoud Darwish. The show toured extensively in Damascus, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, and Spain and was invited by Peter Brook’s “Bouffes du Nord” Theater in Paris. Jidariyya also performed as part of the Edinburgh International Festival.
Zuabi was an associate director at the “Al-Midan” Theatre in Haifa, where he has directed “Forget Herostratus” by L. Gorin, and “An Autumn Tale” by Aldo Nicolai. In April 2009 Zuabi premiered Sean-Sean’s Opera “Samson and Delilah” at the Vlamesse Opera house in Antwerp. In 2008 zuabi founded ShiberHur Theater Company and has produced 6 shows with this new company, “Old Box” War or More” and The Sneeze”” based on shorts by Chekhov, all toured extensively in the 48 lands and the occupied territories.
In 2010 ShiberHur’s “I am Yusel and This is My Brother” was preformed to great critical acclaim in the Young Vic Theater, London. Zuabi created The Penal Colony his adaptation to Kafka’s Dark tale in 2011.After the success of both shows Zuabi became and International Associate director of the Young Vic.
In 2012, Zuabi directed Comedy of Errors for the Royal Shakespeare Company . He wrote and directed The Beloved for the Bush Theater in London in a co- production with the KVS Brussels. Zuabi created Oh My Sweet Land for theater Vidy Lausanne that was also recreated in the young Vic in 2014.
In 2015 Zuabi created a musical for children based on the Empty Pot with maverick composer Faraj Suleiman. They also created Dry Mud a musical journey into a night in the middle east, as well as West of the Sea . They are currently creating another musical Dance Theater peace in collaboration with choreographer Samar King Hadad.
Zuabi was asked to become a member of the Prestigious UTE (United theaters of Europe ) in 2013 and is currently writing a play commission by them as well as developing a play for the National Theater in London.
