Opening this year’s Liverpool’s Arab Arts Festival, Penguin is a timely piece which connects strongly with the recent Refugee Week – the UK-wide celebration of arts, culture, and community – as it tells the story of one man’s extraordinary journey from a village in the Syrian mountains to a new life in the North-East of England.
Directed with a suitably light touch by Amy Goulding, the wonderfully charismatic Hamzeh Al Hussien relays his life in just over an hour with a combination of music and physical theatre and liberal doses of humour throughout. Performed predominantly in English, there is some Arabic with surtitles provided in both languages.
Jida Akil’s staging and costume design is rightfully kept simple with an array of clothes rails to the rear allowing Hamzeh to seamlessly move between stages of his life and the performance rightfully kept to the fore with Hamza Arnaout’s accompanying sound design a delightful blend of eastern and western musical influences.
Cleverly constructed non-linearly, we segue between childhood escapades with school friends in the caves near to where he grew up in Syria, the challenges and opportunities of Za’atari Camp in Jordan, and the accents and okra of Gateshead and Newcastle. The continually etched chalk circle on the stage floor and carefully deployed marbles allows Hamzeh, a natural raconteur, to recreate the places and people that shaped his journey with the pre-recorded voice of his brother Waseem as part narrator ensuring the whole is so much more than an entertaining monologue.
There are memorable and recognisable moments that any audience can imagine and appreciate: the travails of school; scrumping lemons; the wonder of the first time on an aeroplane; the power of trainers; and even an entertaining Nicki Minaj dance routine – all of which greatens the impact when we are confronted by the realities of conflict as suddenly bombs are dropped, homes are destroyed, and lifelong friends are killed.
There is another dimension to his story: from an early age as a result of being born with a disability, Hamzeh was nicknamed ‘penguin’, yet he doesn’t allow this to hold him back, rather he embraces it as his mantra: Be proud. Be who you are. Be more penguin.
This is an important piece of work on so many levels that demands and deserves to be seen by a wider audience – on an educational level alone it should be showcased in primary and secondary schools up and down the country – as it breaks down the much spun myths about not only refugees but also disability and beautifully shows the human face of a person who at heart is just like you and me: penguins may not be able to fly, but Hamzeh soars in this moving, funny, and insightful production.
If you are inspired by Hamzeh’s story then there are a number of ways you can support people seeking sanctuary:
www.refugee-action.org.uk/support-us/
www.togetherwithrefugees.org.uk
Or get involved with your local City of Sanctuary network https://data.cityofsanctuary.org/groups/list
Liverpool Arab Arts Festival 2025 is being held from 11th to 20th July 2025 at venues across the city. For further details https://www.arabartsfestival.com/2024-festival-2/
Amy Golding is an artist, activist, facilitator, and consultant. For further information on her current projects https://www.amygolding.co.uk/
Hamzeh Al Hussien is a disabled artist from Syria who came to England several years ago as part of the UK’s Syrian Resettlement Programme. He was first introduced to performing during his six years in a refugee camp where he trained with a Spanish NGO in physical theatre. Penguin is currently on an international tour, for further details https://www.amygolding.co.uk/penguin
Reviewer: Mark Davoren
Reviewed: 11th July 2025
North West End UK Rating: