The Next Stage

How a theatre group for newcomers helps kids acclimate— while challenging myths about refugees.

- Stacy Lee

THOUGH MOSTAFA ALJABER has wanted to be an actor since he was little, his inaugural foray into theatre didn’t exactly go smoothly. “My first time onstage, I was nervous and scared,” the 16-year-old Winnipeg student says.

It wasn’t the first time he’d felt offcentre. Aljaber was born in Syria, but his family had to leave their homeland in 2012, making their way first to Lebanon and later to Canada. Though he took to his new school immediately and made friends, starting over so far from home wasn’t easy. But getting involved in dramatic arts—through Sawa Theatre, a program for newcomer youth in Winnipeg—has helped (that nerve-racking initial experience aside).

Founded in 2016 by a group of university students and artists, some of them new to Canada themselves, Sawa is a hub for learning. It provides teens with a safe space where they can improve their English and gain realworld skills, including public speaking, teamwork and communication. The youth participate in springtime workshops, then attend rehearsals throughout the summer in preparation for their show’s short run at a local arts centre.