Hecuba: Why Am I In Your Country?

Arwa Omaren, Palestinian-Syrian actress, presents her one-woman show Hecuba: Why Am I In Your Country? Weaving her portrayal of the displaced Queen of Troy with her own journey as a double refugee – first as a Palestinian in Syria, then fleeing the Syrian war – Arwa confronts what it means to lose a homeland twice, and to seek refuge in Britain.

Languages: English

Countries: Palestine, Syria, UK

This show is a part of the Voila! Festival

ABOUT

Writer, actress and director: Arwa Omaren

Producer and co-director: William Stirling

Arwa Omaren trained at the Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts in Damascus before building a career across theatre, film, television, and radio. On stage she has played iconic roles including Queen Hecuba in Trojan Women (Refugee Media Productions, 2022–23) and Gertrude in Hamlet at Al Hamra Theatre . Her film work includes My Last Friend (Syrian National Cinema, dir. Joud Said) , while on television she is known for God Father/Al Arrab (dir. Hatem Ali) and Sarkhat Rooh. She has also featured in acclaimed BBC Radio 4 dramas such as Yarmouk Holy Mountain and Hay el Matar. This breadth of work, from Shakespearean tragedy to contemporary Syrian stories, underlines her ability to channel both classical and deeply personal narratives.