“Mr. Falafel,” as the children of war call him, or Ahmad Al-Masri (23 years old), says choosing this nickname helped break the barrier between him and the children, who grew to know him and befriend him. He became their friend — not just a teacher.
“If I didn’t give something to my country and my people during the war, then when is my time?” Ahmad says. During Lebanon’s difficult days of conflict, he felt a strong drive to contribute through acting and art. “I felt it was my duty as an artist to give something to the people — to ease the burden of war and reflect, through theater, the painful reality that forcibly displaced people live.”
Ahmad helped organize many activities for children in displacement centers, including theater, puppet and mask making, dance, singing, and more. He also delivered “Playback Theatre” performances — a form of therapeutic storytelling theater. “It was something we desperately needed during the war, as this kind of theater helps people relate to their emotions and express what they feel — allowing them to release negative energy.” It was a form of collective psychological healing.
As a child, Ahmad was influenced by the Indian actor Hrithik Roshan and dreamed of becoming a Bollywood star like him. He didn’t know then that his future would be tied to the arts, even though he had always shown interest in music and art, even buying a guitar that he later gifted to a relative. That passion led him to join the Lebanese University to study theater, where he developed his talent and acquired artistic and academic tools. From there, his journey into the world of performance began.
Ahmad’s theatrical journey started in his first university year with a performance called “Ta’arafu” (Get to Know Each Other) — a musical dance piece that was well-received and opened doors to greater opportunities. Since then, he has performed on many stages and festivals across Lebanon.
Ahmad now seeks to create his own theatrical identity, from acting to contemporary dance, in an ongoing exploration of the artistic world. He says: “Art is not a closed mold — it’s experience, knowledge, science, and self-development.”
Still, he faces many challenges in the field. “Usually, well-known people are selected for theater roles, which hinders the discovery of new talents and shifts focus away from the artistic value of the work. As talented graduates, we have the ability to take on leading roles, but we’re often given minor parts. On top of that is the dominance of production companies that monopolize projects for known celebrities.” He also highlights the very low wages, to the point where there's barely any competition between newly graduated actors.
Despite his young age, Ahmad has already won several awards since he began his theater work. He aspires to leave a unique mark in this field and to consistently inspire positive change in society.