Saleh is the founder, writer and director of Parastoo Theater. Originally from Ghazni province, Afghanistan, Saleh studied theatre in Kabul University and went on to become a presenter, writer and programme maker for both national and international media in Kabul. When he was forced to leave his country under the threat of the Taliban, Saleh lost everything he had worked so hard for, and realised that his life as he knew it had ended.

Saleh holds a deep love for Afghanistan and its people, and hopes to one day return but, up until now, the religious extremism, threats to his family, and the arrests and murders being carried out by the Taliban mean it would be impossible for him. “Not having a country is the biggest challenge in my life,” Saleh confides. “It is difficult to overcome obstacles if a person does not have a country.”

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Like many others, Saleh, his wife and young children had been waiting ‘in limbo’ in Malaysia to be allocated a permanent country for resettlement. After a short time, Saleh realised that simply waiting was not enough – he wanted to use his skills as a writer and director to be effective for the community. “Not as a refugee, but as an artist.”

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Parastoo Theater is now a platform not only for Saleh but also for refugees in Malaysia. Parastoo’s six-year experience has shown that art, especially theatre, can be an effective tool to overcoming challenges, including in the area of mental health. Through productions and workshops, Parastoo Theater has been empowering refugees who have lost hope, teaching skills and finding pathways to dealing with obstacles, as well as strengthening community bonds and creating opportunities for people to come together and express themselves.

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Another of Parastoo’s achievements is that of promoting positive relations between local communities and refugees. “Through Parastoo, we have not experienced any xenophobia and hatred between the host communities and the refugees, but we have created friendships and professional relationships.” Saleh hopes to widen communication between refugees and Malaysian audiences. “I want to attract more people to the theatre. Unity between communities through theatre is important to me.”

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As a playwright, Saleh is writing from his heart about the real issues that have impacted on him and are faced by people in Afghanistan. “I feel that Red Soil of Kabul is part of my life. I had a similar experience in Afghanistan. If a story didn’t affect me, I wouldn’t write it.” While stateless in Malaysia, Parastoo Theater helped to anchor Saleh and let him feel heard. “Theatre helps me to say that I am here. Even if people forget me, I raise my voice through art and still say I am here. You can’t ignore me.”

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In August 2023, Saleh finally received confirmation from the International Organisation of Migration that he and his family would be resettled in Virginia, US.

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Previous works written, directed and produced by Saleh Sepas in Malaysia include And Then Came Spring – a collaboration with Instant Café Theatre, The Roof that Collapsed, End of Each Month, I Will Smile Again, Overcoming Hardship, Screaming in Silence and The Bitter Taste of History.

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