Shubbak: Working with Music

Syrian oud player and music educator, graduate of the Conservatoire of Damascus (2014). Rihab was the first woman oudist to perform accompanied by the Syrian National Orchestra for Arabic Music (2014). In 2015, she was a recipient of  a Chevening scholarship which enabled her to study Music Education at Master’s level at UCL. A year after, Arts Council England Recognised Rihab as a musician of “exceptional promise”, which allowed her to work in the UK as a “Migrant Talent”. Since 2015, Rihab has performed in the UK as a soloist and in ensembles and orchestras such as the London Sinfonietta and the newly-formed Third Orchestra. She has collaborated on several interdisciplinary, compositional and cross-genre projects and has been featured multiple times on different BBC platforms. Through her regular appearances, Rihab has supported the causes of several community groups, organisations and initiatives active in the fields of education, migration, women empowerment and social justice. Kareem Samara Biog: Kareem Samara is a multi-instrumentalist, improviser, composer and organiser, currently finishing an MA in Sonic Arts at Goldsmiths University, London. His particular area of interest is in diasporic identity and de-colonial possibilities of sound and music. As well as performing solo with traditional Arabic instruments and electronics, Kareem is a serial collaborator with musicians and poets worldwide. He is part of an international trio with Ryan Harvey and Shireen Lilith, whose songs explore the link between struggles such as Black Lives Matter, the Arab Spring and beyond.

Ellen is Artistic Director at the Gate Theatre. Previous credits at the Gate include – Dear Elizabeth (2019), Effigies of Wickedness (2018), The Unknown Island (2017) and Idomeneus (2014). Other credits include Our Town (Regents Open Air) and The Wolves (Stratford East); Othello (Sam Wanamaker Playhouse at the Globe); the Lyric’s annual pantomime – Aladdin (2016) and Cinderella (2015); The Rolling Stone (Orange Tree Theatre and Manchester Royal Exchange); The Remains of Maisie Duggan (Abbey Theatre, Dublin); The Glass Menagerie (Headlong); Anna Karenina (Manchester Royal Exchange); Henry the Fifth (Unicorn Theatre); Glitterland (Secret Theatre/Lyric Hammersmith) and Ivan and the Dogs (Actors Touring Company/Soho Theatre) – nominated for an Olivier Award. Ellen was formerly part of the Secret Theatre Company at the Lyric Hammersmith. She trained as an assistant to Katie Mitchell and Marianne Elliott. She was awarded an International Artists’ Development Award (ACE/British Council) in 2012.

Kareem Samara is a multi-instrumentalist, improviser, composer and organiser, currently finishing an MA in Sonic Arts at Goldsmiths University, London. His particular area of interest is in diasporic identity and de-colonial possibilities of sound and music. As well as performing solo with traditional Arabic instruments and electronics, Kareem is a serial collaborator with musicians and poets worldwide. He is part of an international trio with Ryan Harvey and Shireen Lilith, whose songs explore the link between struggles such as Black Lives Matter, the Arab Spring and beyond.