Fathi Abdelrahman is recognized as a prominent Palestinian and Arab playwright, noted for his diverse experiences and expertise across various regions. He recounts his background, stating that he was born in a Palestinian refugee camp and received his education in schools run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). During his time in the camp, he experienced his first play, which reflects the long history of displacement faced by Palestinians. Throughout his life, he has experienced multiple transitions due to necessity, carrying books and theatrical texts to different locations as he navigated these changes. Following the signing of the Oslo Accords, he returned to his homeland, encountering significant challenges. His journey continues along the complex path shaped by the experiences of life in refugee camps and the diaspora.
Fathi, born in 1953 in the Aqbat Jaber camp near Jericho, has a rich academic background with a BA in Art Criticism from the Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts in Cairo and another BA in Theater Directing from the Academy of Fine Arts in Baghdad. Over the years, he has written and directed numerous plays that have made a lasting impact on theatrical history. Notable among his works are “How to Free Mookenbot from His Pain,” penned by Saadallah Wannous and staged in Lebanon, as well as the monodrama “Resurrection,” written by Mamdouh Adwan and performed by Zenati Qudsiyeh in Syria. He also directed “Kurd Bey,” a collaboration with Zakaria Muhammad and Fathi Abdel Rahman, and “There on the Other Shore” by Jose Triana in Amman. Since moving to Palestine in 1998, Fathi has brought to life several significant theatrical productions, including “Stories from the Time of White Horses,” adapted from a novel by Ibrahim Nasrallah, and “Abu Al-Khayzuran’s Journeys,” inspired by Ghassan Kanafani’s "Men in the Sun."
Fathi is the founder of the Popular Theater in Amman and the Popular Theater Association in Palestine. As a theater trainer, critic, and author, he has made significant contributions to the field of theater. He independently published a theater magazine and notably directed the Palestine National Festival from 2017 to 2019. Since 2022, he has served on the Board of Trustees for the Arab Theater Authority, further showcasing his dedication to the arts.
Ismail Abdullah, Secretary-General of the ATI, stated regarding the occasion: “With his message, Fathi Abdelrahman joins a group of notable Arab figures who have written and delivered messages for Arab Theatre Day. The inaugural message in 2009 was authored by Dr. Yaqoub Al-Shadrawi, while the 2024 message will be written and delivered by artist Nidal Al-Ashqar. The Authority aims for this annual message to serve as a guiding light for the development of Arab theatre, emphasizing themes of sobriety, authenticity, and openness, and promoting the integration of Arab theatre with its national context.”
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