Us Too – Women of Palestine

Us Too – Women of Palestine
January 12, 2019
husamkaloti by husamkaloti

The Freedom Theatre Production 2018
In partnership with Interpeace’s Mustakbalna Programme | Supported by the Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA)
Inspired by Aeschylus’ The Suppliant Women

https://youtu.be/_Mo7ZXrJ3n0

About

Us Too – Women of Palestine is a bold, site-specific feminist production inspired by Aeschylus’ The Suppliant Women. The work deliberately departs from the original myth, re-imagining its central themes through the lived realities of young Palestinian women. Rather than ancient refugees seeking sanctuary, the performers embody contemporary Palestinian women taking refuge in a sacred space, demanding protection not from war, poverty, or occupation—but from patriarchal violence, social restrictions, and gendered oppression.

Developed in collaboration with Interpeace / Mustakbalna, the production merges classical dramaturgical inspiration with urgent personal narratives that confront harassment, barriers to education, forced marriage, and the struggle for self-determination.

Through an unapologetic performance style, the women claim visibility in a society where their civic and political voices are often sidelined, making the play both a theatrical protest and a collective act of empowerment.

For further reference on the project:
Interpeace – Strengthening the Role of Young Women in Palestine

Artistic Statement

The performance blends text, physical theatre, choral movement, multilingual storytelling, and devised scenes. It explores:

  • Gender-based violence
  • Bodily autonomy
  • Political and civic agency
  • Educational access
  • Social constraints
  • Resistance and feminist empowerment

The ensemble transforms classical supplicant narratives into contemporary political documents, foregrounding agency, resilience, and collective dissent.

Directors

Zoe Delemere Lafferty & Ahmed Tobasi

Cast

(All-female ensemble, developed through Mustakbalna / UNSCR 1325 programme, supported by FBA)

  • Amina Abu Zahou
  • Areej Haseeb
  • Ayat Nazzal
  • Razan Jaaysa
  • Ros Bibilos
  • Saja Mary
  • Shatha Yasin

Creative & Technical Team

  • Dramaturgy & Devised Material: Ensemble, in collaboration with Mustakbalna programme, inspired by The Suppliant Women
  • Producer: Mustafa Sheta
  • Production Manager: Ranin Odeh
  • Programme Coordinator: Rania Wasfi
  • Administrative Assistance & Finance: Isra Awartani
  • Lighting Design & Sinography: Ahmed Matahen
  • Sound Design & Music: Sami Al-Sadi
  • Technician: Adnan Naghnaghiye
  • Costume Design: Fazeh Bni Gharra

Tour & Performance History (2018–2019)

  • World Premiere: Jenin Refugee Camp – December 2018
  • Subsequent Performances:
    • Ya’abad
    • Tubas: Al-Fara’a
    • Nablus
    • Hebron: YES Theatre
    • Tulkarem: Rameen Village
    • Ramallah: ASHTAR Theatre

Each performance was accompanied by post-show discussions to engage local communities, particularly women and youth, in reflection and dialogue.

Political & Social Context

Palestinian women, particularly young women, remain structurally excluded from political and security decision-making. Social norms, conservative attitudes, gender stereotyping, and economic hardship limit their access to influence and restrict knowledge of civic rights.

Through the Mustakbalna programme, Interpeace and The Freedom Theatre empowered young women as agents of change, combining training on UNSCR 1325, human rights, gender, and political literacy with creative advocacy tools—photography, videography, and theatre.

Us Too is therefore more than a performance—it is a public intervention, a protest, and a collective demand for gender justice.

Aesthetic Choices

  • Minimalist scenography emphasizing performers’ bodies and voices
  • Neutral, earth-toned costumes symbolizing collective identity
  • Percussive movement and ensemble breathing inspired by Greek chorus
  • Integration of projected text, direct address, and intimate confessions
  • Use of community and public spaces to reinforce the work’s protest dimension

Partners & Support

  • Interpeace / Mustakbalna Programme – principal partner
  • Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA) – project funder
  • Local host venues: Hebron, Ramallah, Nablus, Tulkarem and Jenin’s community hosts across Jenin Camp, and Ya’abad.

Archival & Academic Note

This publication serves as official documentation for Us Too – Women of Palestine, consolidating artistic, political, and logistical records for research, institutional archiving, and future reference in gender-focused and participatory theatre studies.