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A man in a black coat and jeans stands lit in blue on stage with his arms outstretched.

20-21 Jun 2025

Penguin

Hamzeh Al Hussien & Amy Golding

One man’s extraordinary journey from Syria to England. “Be proud. Be who you are. Be more Penguin.”

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Event Details
Date 20-21 Jun 2025
Times Various times
Location The Beacon – Bowling Park
Ages 12+

“This is the story of my life (so far). People have a lot of questions. The answer is: ‘Yes. I can do anything.’ ”

Hamzeh Al Hussien arrived in the UK five years ago as part of the Syrian Resettlement Programme. And now in this stage show, this remarkable man is taking you with him on an unforgettable journey to the places he knows best.

Penguin takes us from Hamzeh’s village in the Syrian mountains to Za’atari Refugee Camp in Jordan and on to his new home in Gateshead. And it takes us inside his mind, a place full of music, dancing, fantasies… and marbles. Hamzeh invited the audience to be his childhood friends, to hold up the Moon to light his way, and to join him in his dreams.

“This is the story of a journey, my journey, and it’s all true.”

“Uplifting tale of finding self-acceptance and joy” ****  – The Stage

“an extraordinary tale, told with beautiful simplicity” – Disability Arts Online

Watch the trailer

Credits
Supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, the British Council and North Shields Cultural Quarter.

Images © Photos by Ish
A man in a beanie, scarf and furry white coat stands on a stage with his arms outstretched
Image © Photos by Ish
A man in a demin shirt holds his arms out on stage towards a woman in a red jumper to his right and a man in a white hoodie to his left
Image © Photos by Ish
A man stands on a chair on a stage in sunglasses and a baseball cap. He has is arms outstretched as if he is pulling on a rope.
Image © Photos by Ish

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