Neema Bal

Neema Bal is a theatre artist who works to represent the stories of his community in a way that not only reflects and heals the traumas from the past, but also creates a space for reimagining a positive future. He is a former refugee from the Bhutanese-Nepali-American community who resettled in Akron in 2013 and became a citizen of the United States in 2019. He began his theatrical journey from Suruwath Theatre, a theatre company that provided artistic opportunities for theatre artists living throughout the refugee camps in Nepal. (“Suruwath” means beginning something new). After moving to the United States, he believed that theatre could be his career even during a time of immense change. Neema was encouraged and supported by his friends, community, and most importantly by his family. He self-produced more than three productions presented in his native language of Nepali with his community. Since 2017, Neema has worked as Co-Artistic Director of Gum-Dip Theatre which excites him as a method of creating multilingual plays for, with, and about marginalized communities. He has performed original theatre in nearly 42 different locations throughout Northeast Ohio. Recent acting credits include: Three Countries, One Mother, Brokers Without Borders, Denied Admission, My North Hill, Rebranding the City, Imprisoned, Namaste-WHAT?, and In Search of Alternative Dreams (Gum-Dip Theatre). He is also a recipient of the 2022 True North Award and of a 2020 Akron Soul Train artist residency.