Zoukak Theatre

We created Zoukak in 2006 as a non-hierarchical structure, dedicated to theatre practice as a social and political involvement, with a belief in theatre as a space for common reflection and in collectivity as a position against marginalizing systems. Through our artistic creations, we tackle topics that question the ambient status-quos in our context and beyond. We structure our research and creation processes around cycles of work, producing an array of projects around specific themes; such as gender and sexuality, history, power and religion, death and immortality, childhood and violence, re-enactment, among others. Moreover, we are committed to applying theatre in various fields: through social engagement, therapy, and education. We developed a specific approach to psychosocial interventions of drama therapy and socially engaged theatre, providing workshops and training programs to diverse groups, and devising performances in different Lebanese regions and in various contexts, finding ways to connect social interventions with artistic investigations. Zoukak endeavours to develop an environment of dialogue and reflection around the performing arts in Lebanon and to provide artistic development and international touring opportunities for local artists, curating since 2013 “Zoukak Sidewalks”, an international festival and “Focus Liban” a platform for the support and diffusion of work by local emerging artists. In 2008, we opened Zoukak Studio, a space for practical exchange and critical thinking, serving in part as a free access rehearsal and creation space for local practitioners and remaining "the kitchen" of our entire project. With our new, larger venue that opened its doors in 2017, we hope to expand our activities. Zoukak received the Ibsen Scholarship award (2012), the Anna Lindh Foundation’s Euromed Dialogue Award for social resilience and creativity (2014), the Honorary Citizenship of the City of Palermo (2017), the preamium Imperiale Grant for Young Artists from the Japan Arts Association (2017) and the Chirac Foundation Award of Culture for Peace (2017).