A new theatre production confronting the human cost of journalism in Gaza will make its Colombo debut on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at the New Theatre, BMICH, as part of Charitable 2026 – a joint initiative by the Rotaract Clubs of Colombo Fort and Colombo North.
Bulletproof Vests, compiled and directed by Murthaaz Abdul Barry, tells the stories of six journalists in Gaza who redefined the meaning of courage in the middle of the world’s most documented genocide.
Through documentary-style vignettes drawn from real wills, letters, and public statements, the production blends primary source material with visceral theatrical expression to amplify voices that have been silenced by conflict, asking audiences a stark question: what happens to the truth when it is buried beneath the rubble?
More than 290 journalists have been killed in Gaza since 2023, making it one of the deadliest press environments ever recorded. Bulletproof Vests puts faces and lives to that figure through six portraits:
- Shireen Abu-Akleh – The Daughter of Palestine
- Fatima Hassouna -The Eye of Gaza
- Anas Al-Sharif – The Voice of Gaza
- Mariam Abu Dagga – The Hero of Press Freedom
- Saleh al-Jafarawi – The Martyr of Truth
- Bisan Owda -The Next Generation
The production is devised by and features Mashika Methmini, Hirupa Kithmina, Kavishka Lochana, and Sadeepa Wickramage, with guest artists Vishi and Nipuni Sharada.
Writer by day, actor by night, Murthaaz Abdul Barry is a performer and activist with over a decade of experience whose work is defined by a single conviction: that art can give voice to the unheard. He has taken that conviction to international stages, performing at the World Conference on Statelessness in Malaysia and the Ubumuntu Arts Festival in Rwanda.
In Sri Lanka, he leads the Youth Ensemble of Stages Theatre Group and is an active member of the Free Palestine Movement of Sri Lanka. Bulletproof Vests is a direct expression of that advocacy – a commitment to ensuring the stories of the oppressed are not forgotten.
Charitable 2026 is presented in collaboration with the Interact Clubs of Ave Maria Convent, Carey College, Gothami Balika Vidyalaya, Sujatha Vidyalaya, St. Lawrence’s Convent, and Visakha Vidyalaya.
Show Details
- Date: Saturday, May 10, 2026
- Time: 4:30 p.m. onwards
- Venue: New Theatre, BMICH, Colombo
- Tickets and inquiries: +94 75 133 4918 | +94 72 204 0786 | +94 75 493 4871 (Newswire)
