Sami Abu Wardeh, creator and performer of the comedy show Palestine: Peace De Resistance, is ready to bring the show to the Norwich Theatre Playhouse 9 Mar. Blending storytelling techniques with jokes to soften the intensity of the topic, Palestine: Peace De Resistance embodies the new age of live shows. We were able to chat with Sami about his work and what to expect from the show.
Tell us a little bit about the show!
The show is a celebration of resistance through storytelling, silly jokes and hand puppets!
How does this show stay politically relevant while blending in genres you’d never expect to see in a political drama?
The stories I tell in the show are true and timeless, stretching from Algeria to Palestine and even to Ireland. They will all tell the universal story of the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom of your people.
This body of work is personal to you; how do you manage working with something
personal, blending it into your professional?
I think that, in being a comedy show, it helps deal with the personal side of it to a great extent. And because of that, and whatever happens in the show, I make sure there is a joke or a funny angle to go with it.
Why is it important to tell stories like this in a different way?
It’s important to remember that no matter how bad it gets, people have come before us who have lived through terrible times, and to hear their stories should give us inspiration and motivation to keep on going. The comedy aspect of it, I think, makes it a lot more accessible
What was your initial inspiration for this project?
Initially, it was The Battle of Algiers film, and an article I read about the European revolutions of 1848, detailing how they started in Palermo and spread all over Europe. So I went from there from both of those.
Which steps did you take to bring it from idea to reality?
It was an extremely intense week of devising with my director, followed by an intense period of writing.
How would you describe your development process for your creative work?
I need to wait until the core idea of the show comes to me. After that I find structuring and writing quite straightforward, it’s just the initial stage of locking down a good, original idea that I always find challenging and unpredictable.
Describe the show in three words.
Violent joy unleashed.
What do you hope the audience thinks/feels when leaving the show?
Refreshed and invigorated to destroy fascists no matter where they are – in Palestine or in the British government. This show has no bounds for its audience, it is open to anyone, no matter where they are and what they are experiencing, it’s a universal story.
How much has the show changed from concept to final product?
The main change is in the pace and execution of the show. The show now is a tight piece of comedic theatre with a clear journey and message.
Is this your usual genre to work within?
I usually do multi-faced character comedies, but now I am learning and leaning into doing more fast-paced storytelling.
Which themes and concepts do you usually tend to work with, or is this project different to what you normally do?
I seem to gravitate toward how weird ideas and characters speak to the universal experience – or as close a thing as we have to a universal experience.
Why do you think a comedy was the right approach for you, as an artist, to address this topic?
I’m a comedian, so this is the form I’ve been studying and honing for quite some time – it would be a waste for me not to use my skills as a comedian to tell these stories!
Palestine: Peace De Resistance is at the Norwich Theatre Playhouse 9 Mar.
For more information, please call the Box Office on 01603 630 000 or visit norwichtheatre.org.
