Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi’s ongoing 30-day World Culture Festival showcased the Palestinian play And Here I Am, performed on the festival’s 30th day at Auditorium I. Written by Hassan Abdulrazzak and directed by Zoe Lafferty, the production is a powerful portrayal of the life journey of Palestinian actor Ahmed Tobasi, capturing the spirit of Palestine through a blend of realism and imagination, humor and sorrow. And Here I Am follows Tobasi’s life from his youth in the narrow lanes of the Jenin refugee camp, through his imprisonment, to his quest for self-discovery.
Through Tobasi’s story, the play highlights the ongoing struggles of Palestinian refugees, touching on identity, resilience, and the pursuit of freedom, presenting cultural resistance as an essential part of liberation. The play speaks not only to survival but to the resilience of a people who refuse silence in the face of occupation and conflict.
In light of recent military actions targeting the Jenin refugee camp, the performance resonates deeply, merging past and present challenges. A large audience filled the auditorium, applauding the Palestinian artists and expressing heartfelt support for their moving performance.
