Iman Aoun

Founder & Director, ASHTAR Theatre

Iman Aoun is an Award winning Palestinian theatre artist, who began her professional career with El-Hakawati Theatre Company in 1984. She co-founded, ASHTAR for Theatre Productions and Training in 1991, and became its artistic director until 2021, when she became the executive director of ASHTAR Theatre.

Aoun is best known for her dexterity as a theatre maker, seen by the international community as an accomplished director, producer, actor, dramaturge, and intellectual. She was the initiator and the driving force behind major international undertakings such The Gaza Monologues (2010) (2023), ASHTAR International Youth Theatre Festival (2012), and The Syrian Monologues (2015).

As a recognized feminist, she became the Palestine Coordinator of the One Billion Rising Campaign (2014), which is a global initiative by V-Day, fighting violence against women. And Letters to Gaza a solidarity response to the genocide in Gaza (2024).

Her works often focus on grassroots, indigenous, youth, and women empowerment to resist the occupation, gender disparity, international donor agendas, corruption, and political stagnation. Her international collaborations, engagements, and presentations have taken place in several well-known international organizations including the UN, UNESCO, UNRWA, Care International, Cairo American University, La MaMa Theatre in NY, London’s Globe Theatre, North Umbria University, Hamad Ben Khalifa University, and many more.

Over nearly four decades in the theatre, Aoun has been recognized with prestigious awards from the Cairo International Festival for Experimental Theatre (1996), UN-Equity-Now-USA (2000), Cairo Youth Regional Festival (2005), Algiers Arab Theatre Festival (2009), Yemeni Ministry of Culture (2010), CEC Arts-Link (2013), Palestinian Ministry of Culture (2014, 2017), and Palestinian Ministry of Women’s Affairs (2016). She was Finalist at The Gilder Coigney International Theatre Award by LPTW (2020) and her debut documentary film directing “The Gaza Monologues; ten years and the dream continues..” won multiple international awards.

Produced ‘Richard II’ that participated at the Globe to Globe Shakespeare Festival in 2012. She continues to lead ASHTAR Theatre and work regularly in difficult social and political contexts. Through her 34 years of work with ASHTAR Theatre she was able to lead the company and reach more than a million and half audience members in 62 countries and 500 cities around the world.

Ms. Aoun Co-written three books in theatre training and ten short plays.

She is a founder and board member of The Palestinian Performing Arts Network and other Palestinian Arts Organizations.

She was finalist at “Athena 40” Award for Women’s Intervention for Sustainable Future in 2024 - An artist whose work helps Re-imagining our Societies.