“When I was 13 years old, I discovered a small space at the camp in my hometown of Jenin (Palestine) where people tried to make theatre. Every day I snuck out of the house and discovered Hamlet, clowning and comedy in the middle of the camp. One day, a Dutch woman came with a suitcase full of masks with Courage characters.”
“I decided to step into this world of imagination for years. A world where I could become anyone I wanted to be, I could say anything I wanted to say and where I could pass checkpoints with my imagination and fly across the world in one breath.”
- Alaa Shehada
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Palestine Comedy Club is a comedy production company established in the UK and Palestine by Alaa Shehada, with assistance from comedy director, writer and researcher Dr. Sam Beale, and film producer, Charlotte Knowles.
Under the leadership of Alaa, PCC is working to establish a stand-up comedy circuit across the West Bank, and to provide space and funds for emerging stand-up comedy talent in the region to hone their craft; and develop a culture of live comedy performance that is unique to the Palestinian experience.
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Directed by Alaa, the film follows six Palestinian stand-up comedians who write and tour a stand-up comedy show exploring the unlikely, often dark humour that surrounds the complexity of Palestinian identity. What starts as a blending of comic traditions to encourage honest and open reflections through the shared enjoyment of laughter becomes an existential imperative to share common humanity.
Palestine Comedy Club was profiled at Cannes Docs and Toronto International Film Festival work-in-progress strands in 2024. The film has been invited to multiple festivals in 2025.
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Delivering workshops to non-performers including in women's centres and refugee camps. We have taught in Ramallah, in the Korean Centre, Hebron, at the Ibaa Cultural Centre in Dheishah Camp, Bethlehem, and at the women’s centre in Jenin.
We have also held workshops at Nablus Performing Arts and Circus School; as well as across Europe and USA.
These workshops gave local people an opportunity to share personal stories and explore stand-up skills as a form of personal and cultural expression.
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PCC’s first show, ‘Balad’ (بلد ) toured to venues in Ramallah, Nablus, Haifa, Nazareth, Jerusalem and Jenin in 2021. Performed by Alaa Shehada, Hanna Shammas, Raed Sheukhi, Diana Swity, Ebaa Monther and Khalil Al-Batran, ‘Balad’ explores the complexity of Palestinian identity as it is experienced across the entire region, from Hebron to the Golan Heights.
The show received excellent reviews and was described as “ laughter in extreme pain, and a turning point towards a different comedy in Palestine.”
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“What starts as a blending of comic traditions to encourage honest and open reflections through the shared enjoyment of laughter becomes an existential imperative to share common humanity.”
-Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline
Red Noses International
Since 2016, Alaa has been bringing laughter, hope, and a touch of magic to those who need it most as a dedicated Clown Doctor with Red Noses International.
Through this work, he uplifts individuals facing difficult circumstances, offering moments of relief, connection, and positivity. Laughter is more than entertainment—it’s a powerful tool for emotional well-being and resilience. Whether working with children or communities in crisis, Alaa’s dedication to spreading happiness is unwavering. His work is a testament to the power of humor, art, and human connection.
To learn more, visit Red Noses International.