Dramaturgy AcademyMamdouh Hamadeh
Screenwriter, Journalist & Instructor in Dramatic Writing — Dramaturgy Academy
A Syrian journalist and screenwriter born in 1959 in the Golan Heights, holding a PhD in Journalism from the University of Minsk. Known across Arab drama as "the architect of black comedy," his work does more than provoke laughter — it dissects social and political reality with a surgeon's precision. His best-known television credits include Diaa Dayaa (2008–2010), Al-Kharabeh (2011), and Mabrouk (2001).
Works
Articles
- The Art of Building a Dramatic Character
How do you make a character of flesh and blood on paper? A journey into dramatic psychology and the three dimensions of character.
- Directing: Seeing Beyond the Text
The director is not merely an executor, but a script's second author. A study of the contemporary director's tools and how to use them.
- A Reading of Syd Field's Screenplay
A comprehensive review of screenwriting's most influential reference book, and a look at its classic three-act paradigm.
- Black Comedy in Arab Drama
An analysis of how tragedy is enlisted to produce laughter, with examples from enduring dramatic works that exposed the unspoken with a smile.
- Writing Dialogue That Breathes
Why does some dialogue read as wooden while other dialogue breathes? Practical notes on writing dialogue that lives.
Literature
- On the Edge of the Abyss
A short story about a moment of reflection before a decision never made.
- Letters Never Sent
A musing on words that turn to stone when they go unspoken.
- Night of the City
A short poem about silence and a wounded song.
- Under a Strange Sky
An exclusive translation of a chapter from "A Stranger in His Own Land."
- The Researcher
A man meets, at a scientific conference in Beirut, the schoolmate he never noticed — and discovers that love can arrive late.
- Dutch Cheese
A boy waits for breakfast and a box of Dutch cheese — then Quneitra falls before he can taste it, and the loss stays with him for life.
Works
- Diaa Dayaa
The iconic comedy that chronicled the life of the fictional village of Umm al-Tanafes al-Fouqa with sharp, deeply observant satire.
- Al-Kharabeh
A social comedy tracking the feud between the Bou Qa'qour and Bou Malha families, dissecting the structure of traditional society.
- Mabrouk
One of the earliest works to spotlight bureaucracy and social transformation with a critical eye.
- Al-Tawarid
A comic Bedouin series about two foundlings raised by the whole Tawarid tribe, now rivals for Wadha's love.
Arts
- City Lights from Above
A city's streets weave a golden web of light through the dark, seen from an aeroplane window at night.
- Mountains from the Air
A copper-toned mountain range dusted with snow, as it looks from high above.
- Ducks on the River
Ducks swimming on grey water that mirrors the coloured houses of the opposite bank.
- The Crow Takes Off
A hooded crow spreads its dark wings the instant it leaves the ground.
- Stone Stairs
An old stone staircase climbing toward an opening flooded with light between ivy-covered walls.
- Boat and Green Water
A red boat at the dock, and beneath it a green mirror redrawing the surrounding towers.
Library
- Diaa Dayaa — Episode One
The original script of the series' first episode, introducing the people of Umm al-Tanafes al-Fouqa.
- Al-Kharabeh — Episode Ten
The script for the episode covering Abu Qa'qour and Abu Malha's feud over the mukhtar's seat.
Courses
- Screenwriting & Scene Acting
A complete 50-lesson course in screenwriting and scene acting with Mamdouh Hamadeh — from the first idea to the filmed scene.