Meet Fizza Hasan (Global; 2025 ISPA Fellow)

Meet the new ISPA Global Fellow, Fizza Hasan!

Fizza Hasan is the Artistic Director and Founder of Theatre Wallay in Islamabad, Pakistan and a current ISPA Global Fellow. The Global Fellowship Program is made possible through the generous support of our donors.
You will have the opportunity to meet Fizza and other ISPA Fellows at the upcoming 2025 Lugano Congress (June 10-13).

1. What led you to pursue a career in the performing arts and what do you value most about this work?

It’s hard to pinpoint when my love for performance became a career. My deep love of storytelling led me to train as a teacher of languages and literatures. Theatre was always a part of my life, in my childhood, student life, and classrooms, but twenty years ago I gave it a name by founding the company I run today.

Theatre has always been the space where I can both lose and find myself and where people can connect in their shared humanity. Over time, I realized its potential to encourage dialogue, build empathy, and inspire change. What I value most is the sense of community it creates and the power it gives to unheard voices. Through performance, I’ve seen walls break down, perspectives shift and people change.

2. Can you tell us about the mission of Theatre Wallay, the organization you founded and lead in Islamabad? 

Theatre Wallay started as a small group of friends who loved theatre and believed in its power to ignite reflection and change. It has since grown into a space where we ask difficult questions and tell real, powerful stories, often about things people are afraid to talk about. Our mission is to get people thinking, feeling, and talking. We use theatre not just to entertain, but to build empathy, challenge stereotypes, and bring communities together. We aim to make meaningful connections and use art to make a difference.

Our cultural space in Islamabad—one of the few in the city—is where we work, perform, and host other artists. Keeping it alive is central to our mission of supporting art and dialogue.

3. You are moderating a session about the difference the arts can make today at the upcoming Lugano Congress. Can you give us a little preview of your thoughts about this topic?

I’m really looking forward to the Lugano Congress. We’re living in a world that’s overwhelmed by noise, conflict, and division and the arts offer to us a space to listen, to reflect, and to imagine new possibilities. The arts connect us beyond language and politics. They humanize us, build empathy, and remind us of our shared humanity. The performing arts have always spoken truth to power and challenged the status quo, something we urgently need in today’s polarized world. This session is a chance for us to reflect on that role together, and envision a way forward.

4. What are you hoping to take away from the ISPA Fellowship program?

After two years in the ISPA Fellowship programme, I feel incredibly enriched, both personally and professionally. The experience gave me a broader perspective on the role of the arts in different cultural and political landscapes. I’ve built lasting relationships with fellow artists and leaders from around the world, and those connections have given rise to new ideas and potential collaborations. What I’m taking away most is a renewed sense of purpose and possibility. Hearing how others are navigating challenges with creativity and resilience has been deeply inspiring. I feel better equipped to lead, adapt, and push boundaries. The fellowship will continue to support this growth by keeping me connected to a global network of peers and resources that challenge and inspire me.

Click here to view Fizza Hasan's bio