We followed a story of a train journey in Belgium, where our guide’s personal narrative weaved with those of her family members living under occupation. Their voices spoke of how they relate to Palestinian Arabic, their spoken mother tongue, and Hebrew, the official language where they live. How do they interlace in one’s mind in an oppressive environment? And what happens when the settler’s language prevails over the native?

With humour, anger, love and absurdity, Language: no broblem exists to keep thinking about processes of resistance while embracing the limits of translation.

Marah Haj Hussein is an Antwerp-based dancer, actress and maker from Kofor Yassif in occupied Palestine who has has won the Roel Verniers Prize 2023 for this piece.

At this moment she works with companies such as Action Zoo Humain and Lageste .

Shubbak Festival is the UK’s premier festival of contemporary Arab arts and culture.

Cutting-edge artists feature alongside distinguished names in its ambitious programmes of premieres and new commissions. With a vibrant mix of theatre, dance, film, music, literature and debates, Shubbak showcases the diversity and innovation of contemporary Arab arts and culture, and celebrates what makes it distinctive to itself.