HowlRound: Nabil Al-Ra’ee, artistic director of The Freedom Theatre in Palestine’s occupied territories, has been arrested and interrogated by both the Israeli army and the Palestinian Authority and faces the constant threat of reprisals for his work. The danger is unequivocal. The Freedom Theatre’s former director, Juliano Mer Khamis, an Israeli/Palestinian actor and director (who used to say he was 100 percent Palestinian and 100 percent Jewish), was shot dead two years ago by a masked man as he left the theater. According to a Human Rights Watch report, “Israeli occupation forces have repeatedly raided the theater and beaten and arbitrarily arrested employees.” The theater is under siege from all sides—by the forces of the occupation, religious conservatives opposed to change, and the Palestinian Authority.
1 comment:
This article was very moving, and reminded me of just how important theatre can be. I think that Nabil is right, that because theatre is a live art, always changing, never truly fixed or finished, it can inspire people in dire situations to have and share that kind of energy. A performance is always, in my opinion at least, about human connection, whether on the side of the audience or the performers. The work that The Freedom Theatre is doing in Jenin is so valuable, because it can truly change the community for the better as well as educate others across the world during its international tours.
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