TaPRA & ASHTAR Fellowship 2026 Announcement:

The Theatre and Performance Research Association (TaPRA, UK) and ASHTAR Theatre (Palestine) are delighted to announce a collaborative arts research fellowship, awarded this summer 2026 to Ramallah-based, Palestinian theatre researcher Diala Taneeb.

Diala Taneeb is an early-career theatre researcher, copywriter, and stand-up comedian who participated as a young person in ASHTAR theatre-education programmes in Ramallah where she is now again based. For the Fellowship, Diala will be undertaking a five-week research process engaging with 35 years of ASHTAR’s archival material, which includes photographs, digital files, and recordings of past productions, with a view to showcasing ASHTAR’s work to its public audiences, existing and new.

Diala aspires to tell the fascinating story of ASHTAR, the first Theatre of the Oppressed in Palestine and the Arab world, in a universal language. Her mission, one close to her heart, is to amplify ASHTAR’s longstanding commitment to inclusivity and its vision to be more than a theatre, but also a unifying space for critical conversations, social change, and coping. This work will contribute to a global effort to preserve Palestinian culture for local and international communities.

As the TaPRA-ASHTAR Fellow, Diala will be mentored in her research process by TaPRA member Dr Dani Abulhawa (University of Leeds). Diala will also receive a £1,000 stipend, and will have the opportunity to share reflections on her developing project, online at two research-community events: (1) a Mujaawarah (meaning ‘neighbouring’ or ‘being adjacent’ in Arabic): a gathering of creatives and academics focused on Bilad ash-Sham creative practice and histories, convened by Dr Dani Abulhawa at Leeds in July; (2) at TaPRA’s annual conference at Queen Mary, University of London in September.

TaPRA and ASHTAR are thrilled to be able to support Diala’s research project, and have been inspired by Diala’s vision, energy, expertise and passion for ASHTAR’s work. The Fellowship represents a bright point of collaboration and solidarity between our two organisations, bringing together TaPRA’s mission to facilitate, sustain and promote excellence in theatre research by foregrounding anti-oppression, care, and (radical) hope, and ASHTAR’s work as dynamic local Palestinian Theatre with a truly progressive global perspective, aiming to promote creativity and commitment for change.

With thanks to colleagues in ASHTAR and TaPRA, as well as to Dr Dani Abulhawa and Dr Linda Tabar whose work and guidance have made this project possible.

ASHTAR & TaPRA
June 2026

You can read more about ASHTAR here: https://www.ashtar-theatre.org

You can read more about the TaPRA Fellowship scheme here: https://tapra.org/fellowship