Hamsaya

Hamsaya means Neighbours in the Dari Language. 

This show covers the hatred and xenophobia that refugees experience due to the lack of information about them or even misleading information. The show explores both sides: how it feels to be a refugee, not knowing much about locals, and how it feels to be a local, not knowing much about refugees, relying only on misconceptions read online or heard from others. As humans, we often judge based on someone’s past or appearance without truly trying to get to know them and understand where they come from. We hope that this show fosters greater understanding between refugees and locals, helping to dispel misconceptions on both sides and encouraging everyone to be involved in each other’s lives in a more positive way. 

Yasser and Zikri families live in the neighbourhood. Yasser and his family are refugees and Zikri is local. Enmity, hatred and cynicism have cast a heavy shadow between these two families and their work leads to beatings and violence. Yasser believes that because he is a refugee, he is persecuted by Zikri. Zikri has also heard from people around him and on social media that there is no such thing as a good refugee and he is extremely angry that Yasser is his neighbour. Both families have never had a chance to know each other, but a sudden event causes their relationship to change.

Organisation Background

Parastoo Theater is a theatre troupe of refugees in Kuala Lumpur which aims to raise awareness of social issues faced by refugees. Founded in 2017 by writer and director Saleh Sepas, Parastoo practices the ‘Theatre of the Oppressed’ (TO), a form of interactive theatre intended for community problem-solving. TO pedagogy uses theatre games and exercises as a vehicle for participants to gain motivation and self-confidence, and eventually to internalise empowerment.

Since 2017 Parastoo Theater has organised numerous theater performances whereby the last play performed in July reached over 1,000 people. Parastoo Theater has a well-established practice of successfully organising workshops on the topics of domestic violence and mental health, as well as delivering training on research, writing and acting.