Director

Rahen Rebwar

Born 2002 · Slemani, Kurdistan

Rahan Rebwar was born on June 21, 2002, in Sulaymaniyah, Southern Kurdistan. His professional journey in the performing arts began at the age of nine, starting as a stagehand to gain foundational experience in the theater. Education & Academic Background In the 2017–2018 academic year, Rahan enrolled in the Sulaymaniyah Institute of Fine Arts, specializing in the Theater Department. Demonstrating early creative leadership, he wrote and directed his first play, *The Twin Sisters (Joot Khoshk)*, during his first year of study. By his third year, he focused his studies on Theatrical Directing. He is set to graduate in the 2025–2026 academic year with a Diploma in Theatrical Directing. Artistic Contributions Throughout his career, Rahan has been a versatile contributor to the stage, serving as an actor, stage manager, and assistant director in various notable productions, including: * *The Myth of Sisyphus* * *King Oedipus* by Sophocles * *Mother Courage* by Bertolt Brecht * *The Exception and the Rule* by Bertolt Brecht * *Ward No. 6* by Anton Chekhov * *The Forced Marriage* by Molière * *The Father* by August Strindberg * *The Horn (Kelk)* by August Strindberg * *Cain* * *The Lower Depths (The Swamp)* by Maxim Gorky * *A Distant Guest* by Bachtyar Ali Directing & Dramaturgy As a director and dramaturg, Rahan has helmed three major productions: 1. *Uncle Vanya* – By Anton Chekhov. 2. *Our Time* – Adapted from William Shakespeare’s *Hamlet*. 3. *The Shining* – Based on the works of Stanley Kubrick and Stephen King; notably recognized as the first Kurdish horror play in the history of Kurdish theater. HELL Theatre Foundation In early January 2026, Rahan established the HELL Theatre Foundation. The foundation's debut production was the horror play *The Shining*. As the first theatrical institution of its kind in Iraq, HELL Theatre aims to elevate Kurdish theater to an international standard and modernize the professional sector.