PAPA Mini-Residency: Half of Half Magic + Artist Conversation

1 Half Magic is the autobiographical story of a biracial white/South Asian child raised on stories of white heroes. Joseph Ahmed uses physical theater, storytelling, and circus techniques to explore the childhood narratives and social structures that led him to self-identify as white for most of his young life. Animorphs, Ender’s Game, and Harry Potter form the cornerstones of his identity until a loss in the family forces him to reconsider everything. What place is left in his Bengali heritage after a lifetime of white protagonists? Joseph presents the first half of Half Magic live and in-person during this event, followed by an artist’s talk.

Joseph Ahmed (he/they) is a Philadelphia-based theater artist and a co-founder of the interactive performance company Obvious Agency. Half Magic, is under development through PAPA’s Mini-Residency program and was an Exhibition Screener at the first annual Mixed Asian Media Fest. As a director, actor, and more, he has worked with companies such as First Person Arts, ON THE ROCKS, Almanac Dance Circus Theatre, Tribe of Fools, Interact Theatre Company, Asian Arts Initiative, Philadelphia School of Circus Arts, and Team Sunshine Performance Corporation. He holds a BFA in Theater Arts from Boston University. Learn more and connect at www.josephahmed.com.