During 2013, The Freedom Theatre will present several new productions, among them:
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THE ISLAND
by Athol Fugard, John Kani and Winston Ntshona
Opening on March 7 @ 3 pm
Brothers and Sisters of the Land. I go now on my last journey. I must leave the light of day forever, for the Island, strange and cold, to be lost between life and death. So, to my grave, my everlasting prison, condemned alive to solitary death.
This South African apartheid-era drama, inspired by a true story, is set in a prison and revolves around two cellmates: one who is soon to be released while the other is serving a life sentence. They spend their days at mind-numbing physical labour and at night rehearse for a performance of Sophocles’ Antigone. Antigone, who defies the laws of the state to bury her brother, and her uncle who sentences her to die for her crime. Is Antigone guilty? Who decides? Under which law?
The Freedom Theatre’s adaptation of The Island reflects the experiences of Palestinian political prisoners and the abuses within the Israeli prison system. The play also highlights the parallels between apartheid South Africa and Palestine today. The separation, the denial of basic human and political rights, the discrimination and oppression that is evident in countless aspects of daily life.
The Island is a testament to the importance of culture as a tool for resistance, and for humanity. Despite the prisoners’ circumstances their souls are thirsty and art is the water that keeps them alive. In Palestine, as in apartheid South Africa, we need to keep ourselves alive.
Director, Artistic Director, Designer: Gary M. English
Cast: Ahmad Rokh, Faisal Abo AlHeja
Performances:
March 7 @ 3 pm
March 9 @ 3 pm
March 10 @ 3 pm
March 11 @ 4 pm
March 12 @ 3 pm
March 13 @ 4 pm
School performances March 11 and 13
The Island will be performed at The Freedom Theatre in Jenin and also tour to Sweden, Brazil and USA. The production is supported by Sida and the Swedish Postcode Lottery.
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PSYCHOSIS
Inspired by the play 4.48 Psychosis by British playwright Sarah Kane.
Psychosis revolves around collective depression, and the search for hope and freedom within a situation that has no hope nor freedom.
– In this play we are searching for the roots of this collective depression. Of course we’re not going to solve it, but we will point at it, at least, says co-director Nabil Al-Raee.
Opening on April 4
Directors: Nabil Al-Raee and Zoe Lafferty