NOT JUST AN ACT: Little people fight prejudice on Basra’s stages

By Nagham Maki in Basra

In the heart of Basra, 29-year-old actress Intidhar Hassan captivates audiences with her moving performances, in particular, a recent role in which she portrayed a child with autism. After her performance in a play about children with autism, where she held tight a small toy and spoke about how she felt, the theater fell silent as onlookers grappled with the emotional impact of her work.

Despite dealing with prejudice due to her short stature, Hassan is passionate about working in theatre. “Wherever the theater is, humanity thrives,” she says. Hassan particularly enjoys working on children’s productions because she believes these sorts of performances can help shape young minds.  

Another of her standout roles was in the play, “A Drop of Rain”, where she conveyed the journey of a raindrop navigating life’s challenges. “A single drop can quench many thirsts, and a person’s impact is not determined by his size.” she explains, adding that one’s true impact is not defined by physical appearance.

In 2016, artist Abu al-Abbas recognized Hassan’s potential and invited her to join his theater group. “Short stature does not mean short ambitions,” is Hassan’s motto.

Despite her success, the actor continues to have to deal with prejudice in Iraqi society. The roles for little people can be limited, Fathi Shaddad, head of the Iraqi Artists’ Union in Basra, points out. They’re often subjected to bullying in mainstream drama and frequently portrayed in comedic contexts that undermine their dignity.

“Art is a message and it’s shameful to make the audience laugh at an actor for their physical being,” Shaddad says.

Hassan confirms this, saying that actors who are little people, and particularly females, often find it difficult to get meaningful roles to play. In the past, she’s turned down roles in which a little person was being bullied. “I refuse to open the door for cruelty, even if it costs me opportunities,” Hassan says.

Obviously her challenges go beyond her professional life. Hassan’s upbringing included physical and emotional abuse. It was in acting that she found solace, she says.

The young actor is also keen to advance Iraqi theater in general. Better direction, more engaging scripts, and proper training are needed, she says. Even better rehearsal spaces would be a start. Her theater group often ends up practicing in parks or in cafes because of a lack of dedicated spaces.

On stage in Basra, Hassan is dressed in blue and represents a drop of water. Her closing words in the play are addressed to those who have mocked her appearance in the past. “Why can’t you be like children?,” she asks the audience. “Their innocence allows them to see beauty in everything, focusing not on what is on the outside but on the love within.”