Since Lina Khoury moved back to Beirut in 2003 and attained her MFA in theater directing from the University of Arkansas, she has taught, given workshops and master classes in directing, acting, directing actors and script writing for theater, film and television in addition to teaching at various academic institutions, cultural organizations, theaters, television stations, film sets and production houses. She has also worked as an artistic consultant, drama translator, writer, producer, director and acting coach on diverse projects in theater, film and television. She participates as a jury member in various national and international theater festivals such as The Arab Theatre Festival, Baghdad International Theatre Festival, The Lebanese National Theatre Festival, Cairo International Festival for Experimental Theatre, as well as in national feature and short film festivals.

Research Interests

Khoury’s main work and passion is in theatre. She chooses to work on controversial topics that reflect the society’s malfunctions as she sees it, daring to question inherited beliefs and norms with wit and style. Khoury’s influence is felt throughout the Lebanese and Arab contemporary theater through her adoption of groundbreaking viewpoints and management of talents as Gabriel Yammine, Roula Hmade, Talal El Jourdi, Diamand Bou Aboud, Patricia Namour, Elie Mitri, Nada Abou Farhat, Tarek Tamim and the renowned Ziad Al Rahbani.

Creative Work

In theater

• In 2004, Khoury started working on her first play in Lebanon, Haki Niswan, which premiered in the spring of 2006. It was inspired by Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues and was a pioneer play that tackled taboo subjects in the Lebanese society and the Arab World, mainly those related to women’s issues and sexual freedom. Haki Niswan took the Lebanese theatrical scene by storm and played for two years from 2006 till 2008 to full house audiences. Khoury’s fame rose instantly, as the play had raving reviews from local, national and international media.
• In 2009, Khoury wrote, directed and produced Sar Lazem Nihki, a human comedy that tackled relationships between men and women, their problems, differences, obstacles, dreams and aspirations. 
• In 2013, Majnoun Yehki was the third major play that Khoury directed and produced in Lebanon. Based on Tom Stoppard’s Every Good Boy Deserves Favour, it was a musical dark comedy which ironically questioned the oppression of regimes and the humanity of individuals. The play featured Ziad Al Rahbani, whom Khoury brought back to the theater 20 years after his last play.
• In 2015, Khoury translated and adapted Venus by David Ives, which was directed and produced by Jacque Maroun and played in Monot Theatre.
• In 2016, Khoury directed Waiting for the Matinee by Eric Coble, which played at Al Madina Theatre celebrating Al Madina’s 20th anniversary.
• Also in 2016, Khoury put Issam Mahfouz’s controversial play Limatha on stage. Khoury chose to stage this socio-political tragi-comedy to shed light on the situation of acceptance and numbness of the Lebanese society. 
• In 2018, Khoury wrote – with the help of writers Fouad Yammine and Rami El Tawil – directed and produced Haki Rjel, an avant-garde dark comedy and a sequel to her hit play Haki Niswan. The play delved into the hidden world of men and related for the first time in Lebanon and the MENA region stories of oppressed men in a society that is well-steeped in masculinity and where women are oppressed, facing discrimination on multiple levels.

In major production performances

• Al Shaghila, adapted from Edward Albee’s The Occupant in 2012.
• Mathab, adapted from Tom Stoppard’s Every Good Boy Deserves Favour in 2013.
• Ishaat, adapted from Neil Simon’s Rumors in 2014.
• How I Learned to Drive by Paula Vogel in 2015.
• Limatha by Issam Mahfouz in 2016.

In the United States:

• Daisy Pulls It Off by Denise Deegan in 2004.
• An Evening with Arthur Miller and Tennessee Williams in 2004.
• Rakshasa’s Ring by Vishakha Datta in 2003.
• How I Learned to Drive by Paula Vogel in 2002.
• Rendezvous by Larry Davy in 2001.
• Antigone by Sophocles in 2001.
• Frankie and Johnnie in the Claire de Lune by Terrance McNally in 2000.

In television

• In television, Khoury presented two entertainment shows: El Layle Layltak On LBCI and Men El Ekhir on MTV Lebanon. She also worked as a producer for El Layle Layltak, as well as Hiya wa Houwa and The Investor with MBC in Dubai. Lina was one of the acting coaches in Arab Casting on Abu Dhabi TV and MTV Lebanon. 
• She also directed and produced a number corporate and educational videos.

In film

• In film, Khoury was one of the producers for the film Taxi El Balad by Daniel Joseph released in 2011. She was also an actress in Philippe Araktanji’s film Listen released in 2017.

Awards

Khoury won the Best Director Award in the first edition of the Lebanese Theatre Festival in collaboration with the Arab Theatre Institute in 2018.

Academic Degrees

• MFA in Theatre Directing, University of Arkansas, USA.
• BA in Communication Arts, Lebanese American University, Lebanon.