With a joyous rendition of Chumbawamba’s ‘The Day The Nazi Died’, British-Irish-Palestinian comedian Sami Abu Wardeh dances onto the stage, promising that ‘Palestine: Peace de Resistance’ will be a night of storytelling, dance, stand-up, and music.

His show weaves together three distinct narrative threads. First is a romantic comedy set in the 1960s, following Merguez, a charming yet philandering Palestinian man fond of weak jokes about asses, often mistaken for Italian because of his outfit. He falls in love with an Algerian freedom fighter posing as French.

The second is a piece of physical theatre in which his hands become birds, involving the audience in playful ways before delivering an unexpected, twisted finale. The third, and most resonant, is drawn from his own life as the child of a Muslim Palestinian father and a Catholic Irish mother. Here, between the comedy and movement, he offers a personal account of his family’s history, often followed by Dave Allen–style jokes about a Palestinian man, an Irishman, and a Brit, each underscoring Britain’s role in the roots of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. At times, Churchill’s voice is heard over the speakers, an ironic reminder of the political backdrop to his family’s story.

Abu Wardeh moves between these narratives with an energy that fills the space. His performance is physically demanding, switching from romantic comedy to satirical asides to sharply observed stand-up in moments. The Merguez storyline offers clever structure and light-hearted laughs, but the emotional core lies in his personal reflections. He recalls visiting the Al-Aqsa Mosque, where, despite holding a foreign passport and visa, he felt an undeniable connection: ‘I am in my land, my country.’ Moments like this, and his tender recollections of his father and grandmother, invite the audience to want more, to hear further stories of his relationship with the land he loves.

Dressed in a Palestinian style, white jacket, vest, black shoes, and dark glasses, yet easily mistaken for the Italian stereotype, Abu Wardeh closes the show as he began: with charm, humour, and a presence that lingers long after he leaves the stage.

‘Palestine: Peace De Resistance‘ is at Pleasance Dome – Ace Dome until Sun 24 Aug 2025 at 21:45