Profile on: Nabil Shaban
Changing public perceptions of disabled performers
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Nabil Shaban was born in 1953 in Amman, Jordan and arrived in England when he was three for treatment for his osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle-bone disease). In 1980, he and Richard Tomlinson founded Graeae (pronounced Grey Eye), a professional theatre company of disabled performers. |
A writer and performer with many film and television credits, he is probably best known to television viewers for his role as ruthless intergalactic businessman Sil in the Doctor Who stories 'Vengeance on Varos' and 'Trial of a Timelord' (BBC, 1985 and 1986).
On stage he has played Volpone, Hamlet, Jesus in Godspell, Haille Sellassie in 'The Emperor' and Mack the Knife in Theatre Workshop's production of Brecht's 'Threepenny Opera', for which he was nominated for the Critics' Best Actor in Scottish Theatre award (2004/05).
Nabil Shaban is a political actor and has worked in Theatre Workshop plays about Palestine, and about the State murder of Northern Ireland lawyer, Rosemary Nelson. He also acted and collaborated in Ghazi Hussein’s 'One Hour Before Sun Rise' in 2006, about the journey of a young poet named Moneer and his torture in a Syrian prison.
Shaban has written and presented several documentaries on themes of disability, including the Emmy award winning Skin Horse, about disability and sexuality, and the Fifth Gospel, exploring the relationship between the Christian gospels and disability. He also instigated and presented the Without Walls: 'Supercrips and Rejects' documentary, about Hollywood's representation of disabled people.
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Shaban, who has a degree in Psychology and Philosophy, was awarded an honorary doctorate in 1997 from the University of Surrey for the achievements of his career and his work to change public perceptions of disabled people. |
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Shaban is about to go into rehearsal on Theatre Workshop’s production of Beckett’s 'Endgame', directed by Robert Rae in collaboration with Sharmanka. Published in 1957, 'Endgame' is commonly considered, along with such works as 'Waiting for Godot', to be among Beckett's most important works. Its protagonists are Hamm, an aged master, who is blind and can't stand up, and his servant Clov, who can't sit down. The play deals with themes such as loneliness and alienation; blindness, light and dark; and age versus youth.
'Endgame' opens on 1 November 2007 in Edinburgh, then the show will tour Scotland from Peebles to Stornoway via Glasgow.
For information on booking, please visit the Theatre Workshop website. |