The Opposite / بالعکس at IMPACT25 – Artist Biographies

Sleman Aldib is the Founder and Artistic Director of The Arab Canadian Theatre, Kawalease ACT. An accomplished actor, writer, performer, and director, he also serves as a board member of The Calgary Arab Arts & Cultural Society.

He is a recipient of the Canadian Arab Institute’s “30 Under 30” Initiative Award. Sleman’s creative portfolio includes four original productions: Jasmine, Snatched from the Back, Fight or Flight, and The Opposite. His production, The Opposite, is a thought-provoking piece that explores the hypothetical scenario of Canadians experiencing war and seeking refuge. Recently, he directed and produced Interrogation by Bassem Hafez.

Beyond theatre, Sleman’s passion for storytelling extends to photography, where he captures moments that often speak louder than words. This passion has led him to become a professional photographer, dedicated to unfolding the untold through his lens.

Rawd Almasoud

Rawd Almasoud is a Syrian-Canadian Film and Theatre professional based in Calgary. Her multi-award-winning short documentary film Uncivilized has toured film festivals nationwide. In addition to producing short films and being a mentor on several filmmaking incubators, Rawd programs for the Calgary Justice Film Festival and the Okotoks Film Festival, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Calgary Society of Independent Filmmakers and the Documentary Organization of Canada’s Alberta Chapter. Rawd also works in theatrical productions, musicals, and live performances as a Stage Manager, and has worked as an Audio Describer for blind audiences with many companies, including Theatre Calgary. She aims to encourage women of colour and faith from visible minorities to engage more in the creative fields.

Mark Hopkins

Mark Hopkins (he/him) is based in Mohkinstsis, colonially known as Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He’s Co-Artistic Director of Swallow-a-Bicycle Theatre, which generates productive discomfort through art-making, and an Associate with Human Venture Leadership, which seeks to build our collective capacities to reduce ignorance, error, waste, suffering and injustice. Mark volunteers on the board of Kawalease ACT (Arab Canadian Theatre) and founded We Should Know Each Other, a community-bridging initiative. He’s proud to have been recently published in an anthology, Reimagining Fire: The Future of Energy.

Some of Mark’s honours and awards include the Creative Placemaking Award (2016 Mayor’s Lunch for Arts Champions), the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, Best Screenplay (2014 Alberta Media Production Industry Awards), Avenue Magazine’s Top 40 Under 40 and the Calgary Herald’s 20 Compelling Calgarians.

Mona Al-Faqawi

Mona Al-Faqawi is a third-generation Palestinian refugee, carrying within her the echoes of a homeland lost. Her grandfather was forced into exile during the Nakba in 1948 and, like so many, her family grew up scattered across lands that were never truly theirs. Born far from Palestine, Mona inherited the silent weight of longing — the dream of a place called home, yet unreachable.

Choosing not to pass on the same burden of displacement to her children, she migrated to Canada, seeking safety, a sense of belonging, and an opportunity to build new roots. For eight years, she worked with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Türkiye, assisting Syrian refugees in finding new homes through Canada’s resettlement program.

Holding a Master’s degree in Migration Studies from the University of Essex, Mona embodies the intertwined stories of exile, resilience, and hope. Her journey reflects both the cost of losing a homeland and the strength of creating one anew.

Iman Alsilo

Iman Al Silo was born in Syria and came to Canada with her family due to the war, bringing with her a powerful story of resilience and hope. She earned a degree in Architecture Project and Facility Management and currently works as an electrical designer. Iman is not an actor or artist by profession, but being part of The Opposite has given her a meaningful space to express herself and connect with others through a shared experience. She enjoys reading, spending time with her family, and staying true to the values that guide her life.

Muhammad Al Zouhouri

Muhammad Alzouhouri is a dedicated Computer Science student at Wilfrid Laurier University. He is a motivated and reliable young professional who enjoys helping others and working as part of a team. Muhammad has experience supporting children through sports programs and is a passionate advocate for the community and a volunteer with various NGOs, including the UN, where he supports displaced people integrating into new cultures. He has also worked in customer service, which has helped him build patience and communication skills. In his free time, Muhammad enjoys playing soccer and staying active. He believes in the power of art, and specifically theatre, as a tool for storytelling and fostering empathy. His experience in humanitarian work has deepened his appreciation for diverse narratives and the human condition, which he is thrilled to explore through this production. He is excited to bring his unique perspective and skills to The Opposite and looks forward to collaborating with the Kawalease ACT team to create a meaningful and impactful performance.

Fadi Dalloul

Fadi Dalloul is a Syrian-Canadian actor who strives to bring honesty, heart, and a touch of humor to every role. He has appeared in short films for mental health awareness, including In the Shadows of the Mind (PTSD) (2024) and I Am Still Me – The Healing Journey II (2023), projects close to his heart. Fadi has also performed with The Far Flung People at the Toronto Fringe Festival (2024), learning and growing with every stage experience. An alumnus of George Brown College’s Video Design and Production program and currently studying Acting for Media, he combines curiosity, empathy, and dedication to storytelling, hoping to connect with audiences and continue learning from each project. Fadi hates lies but loves acting and Makloubeh.

Mira Joie

I am a multilingual storyteller, educator, and creative spirit who thrives on exploring the intersections of language, culture, and performance. With a background in linguistics and years of teaching experience, I’ve guided teens in storytelling and podcast production, helping them find their voices and share their perspectives with the world. Right now I am a student in health science and I continue to find joy in collaborative artistic spaces. Having recently transitioned from a restrictive upbringing to a life of freedom and expression in Canada, I am passionate about telling stories that amplify resilience, diversity, and community. If not studying full time, you’d find me journaling, editing and producing my own documentary podcast.

Ward Khobiah

Ward is a Syrian Canadian artist who has done performing arts preparation at Sheridan College. He worked for the IMPACT Festival (2023) & Hamilton Fringe Festival (2025). He has previously acted as Loay in the musical play The Last Chord (2025), and Ramez in دقوا المهابيج – Strike the Mahabij – (2025). Besides his work and passion in the theatre, he is interested in the book industry. Through his work, he focuses on issues of peace and discovering voiceless characters.

Bashir Shahin

Tech-savvy and endlessly curious, I thrive at the intersection of innovation and exploration. As a certified drone pilot and skilled smartphone and laptop repair technician, I bring precision and problem-solving to every challenge. My passion for technology is matched by my dedication to personal growth—I facilitate life skills that empower others to unlock their potential. When I’m not tinkering with gadgets or soaring through the skies, you’ll find me immersed in nature, seeking out new experiences and adventures. Whether it’s mastering a new tool or diving into the unknown, I live for the thrill of discovery and the joy of helping others do the same.

Aya Bryn Zakarya

Aya Bryn Zakarya is a storyteller at heart, with a background that bridges theatre, film, and the arts. She has spent over a decade exploring different creative worlds, from working behind the scenes to performing and collaborating with diverse artistic communities. Her journey has been shaped by a love of history, culture, and the connections that live performance makes possible. When not in the theatre, Aya enjoys discovering new places, sharing stories, and finding inspiration in everyday moments. She is delighted to be part of this production and looks forward to sharing the experience with audiences.

Kawalease ACT

Kawalease ACT (Arab Canadian Theatre) assembles, spotlights, and nourishes Arab artists in Calgary, by helping them access resources, networking and artistic opportunities. It was established in 2015, after Artistic Director Sleman Aldib’s arrival in Canada. As he started to find success in the theatre sector, he wanted to create a platform where other Arab people could access artistic opportunities and support. The goal of Kawalease ACT is to be an umbrella organisation for Arab artists in the artistic community of Alberta, offering rich experiences and connections, acting as a bridge between Arab artists and artistic opportunities that exist in Canada.

For more information, visit www.kawaleaseact.ca.

MT Space

MT Space brings different communities together
to create a community of difference.

MT Space was created to centralize marginalized and racialized artists and stories, to fill what seems to be a great void in a community of many different peoples.

MT Space (Multicultural Theatre Space) was founded in 2004 by Lebanese-Canadian Majdi Bou-Matar, who was a trained director, actor, and dancer. Majdi relocated to Canada when his wife was accepted to University of Waterloo to pursue a PhD. Thinking that Majdi would continue his career in Canada as a multi-talented artist, he auditioned with various theatre companies in Southern Ontario. After receiving the same criticism over and over, hearing that his accent was too thick or that he “didn’t look the part”, Majdi decided to create a company that would become a platform for all artists that felt marginalized, racialized, and displaced. This is how MT Space was born.

For the past seventeen years, MT Space has been fulfilling its mandate by creating, producing, touring, and presenting artistic work that reflects Canada’s cultural diversity. Since 2004, MT Space has become a conduit for internationally trained immigrants and newcomer professionals across all disciplines. In July 2016, Pam Patel – who had been an artistic associate with MT Space since 2008 and mentored with Majdi – stepped into the role of Artistic Director and looks forward to ushering the organization into its next decade of powerful artistic work, bringing with her a South Asian background and Canadian upbringing.

MT Space has grown from being a company that produces one show every year to an organization that brings culturally and socially relevant work from across the country and around the world to our community of Kitchener-Waterloo. We have challenged the preconceptions of theatre to create, produce, and present work that is accessible and affordable to low-income families while creating a space for Indigenous, immigrant, refugee, and marginalized voices to be heard.

MT Space challenges the definition of theatre to include all disciplines such as dance, music, multimedia, and circus performing arts. As such, MT Space is becoming a presenter of artists and arts organizations across many disciplines.

Mada Theatre

Mada was founded by Majdi Bou-Matar and Nada Humsi in Waterloo Region, Canada. Majdi passed away in 2022. In January 2023, Nada incorporated the previous Mada Collective as a not for profit company to keep the memory and the legacy of Majdi Bou-Matar alive.

Mada is registered as a theatre for Arts and Growth, which represents growth of artistic productions, a tree into fruits, a baby into an adult, an egg to a chick, linking the authentic arts with nature.

Mada is a combination of Majdi and Nada’s names (Ma-da). Mada means “Horizon” in Arabic. Majdi and Nada shared a passion for creating Arabic theatre in Canada.