Two Palestinian Artists Win Awards at Edinburgh Fringe

At the 2025 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Palestinian artists Alaa Shehada and Sami Abu Wardeh captured critical acclaim and prestigious awards for their stirring solo performances, weaving together themes of cultural resistance, identity, and laughter amid adversity.

Actor and writer Alaa Shehada received the Fringe First Award—bestowed by The Scotsman—for his solo show The Horse of Jenin. The performance centers on a symbolic horse sculpture erected in Jenin’s West Bank using debris from a 2002 Israeli attack, which later became a landmark of Palestinian resilience before being bulldozed by Israeli forces in 2023.

Over a compelling 70-minute narrative, Shehada intertwines personal stories, humour, and heartbreak, notably recalling the loss of his childhood friend Ahmed. The Scotsman lauded the production as “a terrific tale of Palestinian life, laughter and tragedy under unimaginable pressure”.

Shehada, reacting to the accolade on Instagram, declared, “The show tells a story that has always mattered, and never more so. As the genocide in Gaza and the West Bank continues, … we must keep amplifying Palestinian voices, preserving culture and advocating for justice, freedom and an end to the violence.” The buzz around the show’s emotional intensity and relevance has led to additional performances being scheduled on August 22 and 23.

Meanwhile, Sami Abu Wardeh, an Irish-Palestinian comedian, earned the Heart Award in the Besties awards for his show Palestine: Peace de Resistance. His act creatively merges character sketches, physical theatre, puppetry, and biting political satire, raising the question of whether comedy itself can become an act of resistance.

Drawing from his own life in exile, he delivers a performance described by Louis Cammell (Deputy Editor of Fest magazine) as “passionate, epic and very funny”. Announcing the recognition on social media, Abu Wardeh simply celebrated, “Winner! Bestie Award for Heart. Thank you to everyone who made this possible.” 

Both productions are being presented at the Pleasance Dome and contribute to the spotlight on Palestinian artistry amid one of the world’s largest and most vibrant arts festivals, running through August 25.

This article was previously published on saudimoments. To see the original article, click here