Cultural Resistance Festival of Palestinian Theatre
April 4-11, 2018 – The Freedom Theatre, Jenin refugee camp
“My dream is that The Freedom Theatre will be the major force, cooperating with others in generating cultural resistance, carrying on it’s shoulders universal values of freedom and justice.” Juliano Mer Khamis
April is a month with profound meaning for The Freedom Theatre and for Jenin refugee camp. In April 2002, during the Battle of Jenin, residents of the camp managed to hold against a large-scale invasion by the Israeli occupation forces, resulting in great losses and large parts of the camp being demolished. On April 4, 2011, The Freedom Theatre’s co-founder Juliano Mer Khamis was brutally assassinated while driving out from the theatre. Every year on this day, we honour Juliano’s life, work and legacy while we repeat the demand that those responsible for this crime be brought to justice. April stands out every year as a period in which the theatre commemorates its resilience despite all the challenges and difficulties it has faced.
Our theatre festival kicks off in less than a week on April 4th April and everyone’s invited! There are several exciting activities planned for the week long event including theatrical performances from theatres across the West Bank, an international theatre performance, a chance for talks and discussions, a tour of Jenin camp and much more.
Thursday 4th April 2019
Opening Day
10:00 – 11:00 am: Photo Exhibition and film screening
11:00 pm: Theatrical Sketch Show in TFT’s square
12:00 pm: Press Conference
12:30 pm: Symposium on Cultural Assassinations – talk, discussion and Q&A.
2:00 pm: Lunch
3:00 pm: TFT’s Friends Gathering
5:00pm: ‘Return to Palestine’ performance
Friday 5th April
8:00am: Walking Round Trip (TFT – Jenin’s Forest)
4:00: Concert from Al-Kamandjâti
6:00pm: TFT’s Friends Gathering
Saturday 6th April
11:00am: ‘Trish’ theatre workshop by American professor Patricia Lindberg on the cooperative- educational theatre, educational exercises, games and training related to integration, guidance and responsibility in relationships with children.
5:00 pm: “Men in Sun” Performance from the City Theater (Al-Medina)
Sunday 7th April
5:00 pm: ‘On the Edge of a Hole’ performance by Raseal Theatre (Nablus)
Monday 8th April
5:00 pm: “Two in Tel-Aviv” Performance from Al-Majd Theater (Haifa)
Tuesday 9th April
11:00 am: “Eyes Up” Children’s Play from Prova Theater (Italia) within Children & Youth Theatre Festival, organized by Al-Harah Theatre.
5:00 pm: ‘And Here I Am’ by Ahmed Tobasi
Wednesday 10th April
3:00pm: Public screening of ‘Arna’s Children’ by Juliano Mer Khamis
6:00: Public screening on ‘The Journey of the Others’ – TFT movie by Jaime Villarreal Izquerido
Thursday 11th April
5:00 pm: “The Little Lantern” Children’s Play (TFT’s Production)
6:30 pm: Press Conference
7:00 pm: Closing of the Festival
You are welcome to join us on one, two or all of the days! Tickets for the events will be sold at the door. To RSVP, email [email protected].
Information on how to get to The Freedom Theatre can be found here.
Please note that The Freedom Theatre cannot offer accommodation or help with booking accommodation. Overnight guests can contact Cinema Jenin Guesthouse (email [email protected]) or North Gate Hotel, both offer 10% discount to The Freedom Theatre’s guests (make sure to mention The Freedom Theatre when booking).
