Acting

Raya first came to theatre from ballet, where her love for physical storytelling remains rooted. As a young person she trained under Candice Pullom, VJ Orduna, Matt Posner, and Stephanie Barbuto. She then studied Theatre with emphases on solo performance and fight direction at Swarthmore College, and graduated from the British American Drama Academy. Now, she's back in Seattle and excited for the next chapter.

Catch Raya in Circle Mirror Transformation from 23 Jan - 15 Feb with Strawberry Theatre Workshop, directed by Leah Adcock-Starr.

Raya, wearing a red dress with a rose pin, gingerly holds a replica of a human head.

Raya (Eurydice) sits on the ground and rests her head in Daniel Oakes' (Orpheus) lap. Daniel sits on a bench. There is a lantern to his right. Raya looks up at Daniel. Daniel plays with Raya's hair.

Raya (Eurydice) and Nikhil Tignor (Child) face each other. Nikhil, wearing a red and white striped shirt and blue cape, blows air in Raya's face the way someone blows out birthday candles. Raya wears a gray jacket, white skirt and black fascinator hat. Both people's eyes are closed.

Raya (Eurydice), looking at Daniel Oakes (Orpheus) with fear and regret. The lighting is warm and golden. Both people are wearing white. Only Raya's face is visible.

Raya (Eurydice) holds Jake Rothman (Father). Behind them stand T Sallie (Little Stone), Rolice Yulan (Big Stone), and Neil Steinglass (Loud Stone). The lighting is blue and dim. Raya kneels, wearing a white dress. She holds Jake in her lap. Jake's eyes are closed. T, Rolice and Neil wear puffy black jackets, and have black makeup "tears" streaming from their eyes. They shout at Raya.

Raya (Mobius) pushes Jake Rothman (Herr Rose) in an office chair. Jake wears a gray suit, black shoes and glasses, and looks upset. Raya is smiling and singing.

Raya (Mobius) wears purple pajamas and a blue hat. She stands on a yellow couch, with a blanket wrapped around her shoulders, brandishing a small coffee table. Her back is to the camera. Four people and a mannequin crouch together against a door, cowering from the coffee table. The floor is alternating red and white tiles, with a blue tile in the foreground.

Reid Mansur (Nurse Monika) holds Raya's (Mobius) hands. Raya sits on a yellow couch and wears a blue hat. Reid wears a 1960's maid costume with a white hat and blue striped shirt. Reid kneels on the ground.

Raya (Bella) tells a story. She has one hand on the counter and one at shoulder height. She is facing away from the mirror.

Raya as Bella, wearing a pink dress, standing in front of a couch with plaid cushions. She wears pink eyelashes and holds her hands to the side of her.

Raya (Bella) stands on one foot with a smile on her face. Her arms are extended.

Raya (Naina) in a blue-green shirt, holding a photo in her right hand. There is a band on a platform behind her. Graffiti is painted on the wall behind them.

$Raya (Naina) with Mrinali Taskar (Im Ikhtifaa'), who sits in a chair with a kuffiyeh across their lap. Raya has one hand on their shoulder. On the right side of the image, Daniel Oakes (Thul) watches, wearing a Batman t-shirt. The lighting is dim and fractured.$

Raya (Naina) stands at a microphone, wearing a blue-green shirt. Her left arm is raised directly above her head. She holds a photo in her left hand.

Raya (Nurse) is standing in the middle of a crowd of people, wearing a striped skirt. The lighting is bright red.

Raya (Nurse) helps carry Nena Martins (Phaedra).

Raya (Person) resting her head on a desk. Her hair is tinfoiled. The desk also has a mirror on it.

Raya (Person) crouched behind a flipped-over metal cot, holding a pistol. In the background, Shail Modi (Boy) wears a beanie and sits with his hands on the ground behind him.

Raya (Catherine) smiling with Timothy St. Pierre (Eddie), wearing a white shirt and black skirt. Timothy holds Raya's hands.

Raya Tuffaha showreel (2023)

headshots

A Palestinian woman with curly hair wearing a green shirt.

A Palestinian woman with her hair in a bun, wearing a black shirt and a baseball jersey.

A Palestinian woman with curly hair, in a yellow and white striped t-shirt, smiling at the camera.

A Palestinian woman in a red ruffly shirt

A Palestinian woman in all black, wearing red lipstick.