2026 LONDON Staged Readings – In Development

Written by Tomer Aldubi | Translated by Shir Freibach | Directed by Niall Phillips

Sharif شريف – is a staged reading of a gripping and deeply moving new drama about the precarious lives of LGBTQ+ Palestinians.

The play follows Sharif, a queer Palestinian man forced to flee the West Bank after being outed. Seeking safety in Israel – a place that represents both refuge and threat – he must navigate an unforgiving system while trying to hold onto his identity and truth. Inspired by real testimonies, the piece moves between memory and present-day storytelling to explore the themes of resilience and belonging.

Told through a series of interwoven flashbacks and present-day scenes, the play brings to life Sharif’s struggle for survival, his longing for love, and the quiet courage it takes to endure in the face of constant danger. Based on real testimonies, Sharif shines a rare light on the lives of LGBTQ+ Palestinians living under occupation. 

It’s a heartbreaking, urgent, and ultimately hopeful call for empathy, justice, and human dignity.

Written by Israeli playwright Tomer Aldubi who worked closely with Palestinian dramaturg to ensure authentic representation of the story and narrative.  Performed in English with Arabic and Hebrew interwoven, the play offers an intimate, human perspective on lives too often flattened by politics. 

This limited series of staged readings of the new play, ahead of its production in London and New York later in the year. It will be followed by a post-show Q&A.

A note from the Playwright

Five years ago, I discovered that dozens of LGBTQ+ Palestinians are forced to flee the West Bank when their lives are endangered because of their sexual orientation. I was shocked – not only because I had never heard about this, but also because these individuals, once inside Israel, are granted temporary permits to stay, yet denied the rights to live a safe, decent, and fair life.

At the time, this community was barely visible, both in local and international discourse. My journey began as a journalist for Mako, an Israeli news website, where I wrote one of the first Israeli press articles about the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ Palestinians – in both the West Bank and in Israel.

Since then, I’ve continued to deepen my understanding through volunteer work with The Different House, an Israeli non-profit that empowers and supports Arab LGBTQ+ people in Israel and the occupied territories. The organization provides legal and personal aid to Palestinian asylum seekers, and works tirelessly to protect this vulnerable community.

In 2022, following the horrific murder of Ahmed Abu Marhia, queer Palestinians finally began receiving broader international attention. The struggle that had long gone unnoticed was now, at last, gaining momentum.

SHARIF is a story of exile, belonging, and racism. It’s based on real testimonies from brave individuals who chose to share their most painful memories, in the hope of raising awareness and helping others who face LGBTQ+ hate and persecution.

I want to express my deepest gratitude to the cast, creative team, and the BorderLight Festival for their courage and dedication in bringing this play to life – especially in today’s climate. I believe that the only path to lasting peace is through collaboration: Palestinians and Israelis, Jews and Arabs, working together to create art that challenges, heals, and inspires.

As an Israeli, I feel a responsibility – and a privilege – to help share these stories. Stories that are still too often neglected or silenced. By amplifying these voices, we create space for empathy, understanding, and hopefully, change.

Solidarity across communities, faiths, and identities is the only key to create a better and safer life for us and for future generations.

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