Seenaryo uses theatre and play to encourage education, healing and resilience. The organisation supports under-served communities in Lebanon, Jordan and Beirut – particularly children, young people, and women.
These are locations of upheaval: Jordan and Beirut have some of the highest numbers of refugees per capita worldwide and there is significant poverty in Lebanon, where, following Covid-19, there is an estimated 50% youth unemployment. Seenaryo’s workshops, sessions and plays challenge mistrust and polarisation, bringing conflict-affected communities in dialogue with each other. Theatre can provide trauma support, as well as helping young people to understand and accept the differences between one another.
Children participating in theatre with Seenaryo.
Credit: Seenaryo
The Linbury Trust has been supporting Seenaryo for many years and, in 2021, the Trust made a three-year grant of £126k to deliver its arts and theatre programme. So far, Seenaryo has provided employment to 40 local people, including artists, educators and facilitators. The young people have co-developed 15 new theatre productions, with an audience of almost 1,000 people. Many of the young people involved report significant increases in emotional resilience, confidence, and emotional wellbeing.
Children’s theatre programming has been a positive, constant, influence in the life of so many participants. It is a powerful way to spark difficult conversations and give young people a safe space where they can have fun without fear, finding their voices to become agents of change along the way.
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