We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Islam Balbaa a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Islam, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

I am currently living my dream—making a full-time living from my creative work in New York City—but the journey to get here was far from overnight.

My career began in Canada, where I started acting in short films and community theatre. Realizing the need to create my own opportunities, I founded Balmour Productions, a film and theatre company dedicated to producing high-quality, original work. Under this banner, I produced and directed 12 short films, all of which were accepted into multiple film festivals, and staged three full-scale theatrical productions that sold out and toured across Canada.

Those early successes really opened doors for me, including a lead role in the international docu-series Mayday: Air Crash Investigation and a part in Transplant, which was Canada’s top drama series and also aired on NBC. That body of work helped me secure my O-1 visa for individuals of extraordinary ability. Since moving to the U.S., I’ve had the chance to work with wonderful organizations like The Players Theatre, Classics on the Rocks, and Live History, as well as being involved in projects with The Public Theater, The Actors Studio, and national commercial campaigns.

The process was long, requiring persistence, creative initiative, and consistent high-level achievement. Looking back, the only thing I might have done differently is expand internationally sooner—but every step in Canada laid the foundation for my success in New York.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m an actor, director, and producer with over 18 years of experience in the performing arts. Originally from Egypt and now based in North America, I founded The Arabic Theater Company to amplify Arab voices through powerful storytelling in both Arabic and English. Under this leadership, the company has produced sold-out shows across, organized fundraisers, talent showcases, and improv nights, and become a unique platform for Arab artists in the diaspora. My work has been featured in international film festivals and on major television networks, including a recurring role in Canada’s #1 TV show Transplant. A passionate advocate for equity in the arts, I also serves on the City of Ottawa’s Equity and Inclusion Committee and has twice judged grants for emerging artists.

Here are some answers to your topics questions that paints a clearer picture as well:

– Do you have an agent or someone (or a team) that helps you secure opportunities and compensation for your creative work? How did you meet you, why did you decide to work with them, why do you think they decided to work with you?

When I first began acting, I didn’t have formal representation. My entry into the industry happened quite organically. While working as a software engineer in Ottawa, I auditioned for a lead role in Dead Man on My Couch, written and directed by Lisa Meuser. She cast me immediately, and that production ignited my passion for acting.

Lisa subsequently cast me in multiple major productions—including Me, My Mom and a Whistle, Permanent Smile, and Divinity. In Me, My Mom and a Whistle, I played several different characters, showcasing my versatility and comedic range. Lisa later adapted that play into a feature film, again casting me in a prominent role.

Years later, Lisa transitioned into a new career as a talent agent—one of Canada’s top in the field—and I became part of her roster. She has since sent me to auditions for major film, television, and commercial projects in Canada.

After relocating to New York City, I secured representation in a rather cinematic way. While participating in my first class at HB Studio with Tony-nominated actress and instructor Lorraine Serabian, a peer impressed by my work referred me to their manager, which led to my signing with The Talent Express. More recently, I expanded my team by joining The Polygon Group, a respected Los Angeles agency that is already sending me to auditions for major studio and network productions. Today, with representation across Canada, New York, and Los Angeles, I have access to a wide range of high-profile opportunities in film, television, and theatre.

– How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

For me, the most valuable teacher has been experience. I made it a priority to put myself out there—whether in community theatre, short films, network television, or even on Broadway stages—because every environment offered new lessons and skills.

I also committed to learning the craft from every angle. Over the years, I have worked not only as an actor but also as a writer, director, producer, stage manager, and in technical roles such as props, sound, and costumes. Wearing all of these hats gave me a deep understanding of the collaborative process and a broader perspective on storytelling. That versatility has made me a stronger and more adaptable performer.

– What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on? Tell us the backstory so we understand circumstances/context and why it’s meaningful to you.

Under the umbrella of my Canadian theatre company, Balmour Productions, I produced and directed an Arabic-language adaptation of My Fair Lady. This production was deeply personal to me—it was my late grandfathers favourite play we would watch it together every year, and I wanted to honor his memory by bringing it to life in a way that celebrated both our shared love for theatre and our cultural heritage.

I poured my heart into every aspect of the production, from casting to staging, ensuring that the adaptation retained the charm of the classic while speaking directly to Arabic-speaking audiences. The result was a sold-out performance in a 500-seat theatre—an unforgettable moment that affirmed the power of theatre to connect generations, cultures, and communities.

The production also contributed to cultural diversity in Canadian theatre, offering representation to Arabic-speaking audiences who rarely see their language and heritage reflected on major stages. Through that play the Casting Directors of the Hollywood blockbuster X-Men Apocalypse contacted me and auditioned our cast and ended up choosing our lead actor to have a critical role in the movie sharing the screen with Oscar Isaac.

– When was the first time you knew you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally? Give us the backstory, so we can understand the context and the circumstances and re-experience that moment with you.

As a child, I was captivated by television, but my defining inspiration came from Home Alone. I was the same age as Kevin McCallister, and I dreamed of being Macaulay Culkin. Growing up in the UAE, however, there were very few artistic opportunities in school.

I have a vivid memory from Grade 5: a talent scout visited our classroom, looking for children to appear in a music video for a famous Arab singer. He scanned the room, chose ten of my classmates… and skipped over me. I was devastated. I cried for a week, wondering why they had picked my friends instead of me.

That moment planted a seed. I promised myself that one day I wouldn’t be overlooked — that I would create my own opportunities and build a career where no one else could decide whether I belonged on stage or screen.

– Tell us the story of a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big, life changing risk or a small risk. Either way, paint the picture for us, tell us the backstory and all the relevant details so we can fully understand the context and circumstances around when and why you took the risk and tell us how it turned out.

Creating my own production company and investing money into it not knowing where it will lead that was a huge risk but boy was it ever rewarding. I’ve made a name for myself and have grown the company so much and collaborated with the best artists out there. The journey began in Canada, and now my dream is to bring that same energy and vision to the U.S. with The Arabic Theater Company!

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Honestly, I can’t pick just one moment because there have been so many. The most rewarding part of being an artist has been the kindness I’ve experienced in this industry. I can’t even pick just one moment because there have been so many. People have shown up for me in ways both big and small—sometimes it was a director recommending me for a role, a classmate connecting me to their manager, or a friend passing along a script they thought I’d be perfect for. Other times it was as simple as someone looking me in the eye and saying, “You’ve got this,” right when I needed to hear it.

Those little acts of support add up, and they’ve shaped my entire journey. They’ve reminded me over and over that this career isn’t something you do alone. And honestly, that’s what makes it so rewarding—the sense of community, of knowing that we lift each other up and carry each other forward.

What I love most is being able to give that back. Whether it’s mentoring younger actors, recommending someone for a role, or creating spaces where Arab artists can be seen and celebrated, it feels like I’m paying forward all the kindness that was given to me. At the end of the day, that cycle of support is what makes being an artist so meaningful for me.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Creating my own production company and investing money into it not knowing where it will lead that was a huge risk but boy was it ever rewarding. I’ve made a name for myself and have grown the company so much and collaborated with the best artists out there. The journey began in Canada, and now my dream is to bring that same energy and vision to the U.S. with The Arabic Theater Company!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thearabictheatercompany.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thearabictheatercompany
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PharaohActor
• Other: https://www.islambalbaa.com/
  https://www.instagram.com/thearabictheatercompany

Image Credits

Koby O. Garcia