The Horse of Jenin

Built from the debris of a major invasion, the Horse of Jenin sculpture became a constant presence in Alaa’s life growing up in Occupied Palestine. It stood proudly in the center of the city for twenty years, symbolizing hope and resistance.

Then, on October 29, 2023, an Israeli bulldozer entered the city, ripping the sculpture from its place — and from its people. Now, Alaa is left wondering… What happened to the horse?

Highly acclaimed at the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Bush Theatre (London), and other international engagements, and combining storytelling, mask, and stand-up comedy, The Horse of Jenin is constructed from the fragments of Palestinian actor and comedian Alaa Shehada’s own memories and stands as an ode to the power of imagination and the resilience it brings.

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We planned to present in-person performances of The Horse of Jenin as part of the NYTW's IN THE BRICKS Festival. In November 2025, playwright and performer Alaa Shehada was detained by Customs and Border Patrol while attempting to enter the U.S. on his valid O1-B visa, granted to individuals recognized for extraordinary ability in the arts. He was denied entry and returned to Amsterdam. The U.S. has since issued a ban on entry for individuals traveling on Palestinian Authority documentation.

PlayCo, New York Theatre Workshop, and 55B Productions, along with Studio Theatre and the Laboratory for Global Performance & Politics (DC), Golden Thread Productions and Crowded Fire Theater (San Francisco), and Dunya Productions and Donkeysaddle Projects (Seattle) remain committed to ensuring that Palestinian voices are not silenced and that audiences can experience The Horse of Jenin. Screenings of the show will be presented in lieu of live performances.

In NYC, screenings will take place at Cinema Village (22 East 12th Street) and will be presented daily at 2pm, 4pm, 6pm and 8pm from May 8-14 as part of the IN THE BRICKS Festival. Individual tickets are $10 + applicable fees and can be purchased from Cinema Village. Individual Tickets are on sale now.

In honor of Alaa's own work as a comedian bringing Palestinians together through laughter, and as a way to find joy and face-to-face interaction in this increasingly fraught climate, PlayCo and NYTW will be presenting a one-day comedy festival featuring local Palestinian comedians as part of our community programming. Click here to learn more and RSVP!


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The Horse of Jenin is made possible with financial support to Troupe Courage from Amsterdam Fund for the Arts (AFK), Fonds 21, Performing Arts Fund NL (FPK), Cultuurfonds, Norma Fund, and crowdfunding platform Voordekunst. With special thanks to Jacqueline Kleijn, Hugo Keuzenkamp, Tjipke Bergsma, Nan van Houte, Lucas Hendricks, and Shelly Razaac.

The U.S. premiere of The Horse of Jenin was originally presented by La MaMa during Under the Radar Festival 2025, and co-produced by GOH Productions and 55B Productions.