Fragments of Palestine

Fragments of Palestine
يوليو 06, 2009
mustafas by mustafas

A Production by The Freedom Theatre (TFT), Jenin, Palestine

Production Highlights

  • Debut: July 20, 2009 – The Freedom Theatre, Jenin Refugee Camp, Palestine

  • International Tour: Germany & Austria, September–October 2009 (KinderKulturKarawane)

  • Language: Arabic / Non-verbal Physical Theatre

  • Genre: Political Drama, Physical Theatre, Cultural Resistance

Watch Fragments of Palestine
Experience the energy and power of The Freedom Theatre’s Acting School students in this short highlight reel of Fragments of Palestine (2:44).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zCoqbg9ZFU

Synopsis

Fragments of Palestine is a visceral exploration of life under occupation, told through the stories, movements, and experiences of the Acting School students at TFT.

A wedding erupts into a tragic exodus, funerals of martyrs unfold, and children navigate a world defined by walls, checkpoints, and curfews. Yet amid hardship, laughter, dreams of the sea, and acts of resilience persist. Through physical theatre and movement, the play transforms personal grief and trauma into a universal language of hope, defiance, and artistic resistance.

About the Play

Developed as part of The Freedom Theatre Acting School’s intensive three-year training program, Fragments of Palestine merges lived experience with professional theatre practice. Students from Jenin Refugee Camp contributed their own stories, reflecting the challenges of growing up under military occupation.

The production transcends verbal narrative, employing movement, rhythm, and ensemble work to communicate themes of resilience, freedom, and the transformative power of creativity. It is both an artistic achievement and a document of Palestinian life, identity, and cultural resistance.

Why Watch the Play?

  • Witness a pioneering example of physical theatre from Palestine.

  • Experience narratives rooted in reality, performed by young Palestinian artists trained at TFT.

  • Explore themes of occupation, resilience, and identity through a universal artistic language.

  • Engage with a production that has toured internationally and contributed to cross-cultural dialogue.

Cast & Creative Team

  • Directed by: Nabeel Al Raee

  • Artistic Supervision: Juliano Mer-Khamis

  • Choreography: Camilla Bakken

  • Performed by: Adel Massarwah, Batool Taleb, Moe’men Switat, Eyad Hoorani, Mariam Abu Khaled, Faisal Abu Al Haija, Haroon Abu Arrah, Qais Al Sa’di, Rami Awni

  • Producer: The Freedom Theatre (TFT)

Director’s Note

“Fragments of Palestine” is silent because Palestine itself is often unreadable, untranslatable into words alone. Through movement, music, and light, we assemble these fragments to give voice to experiences otherwise invisible. The personal becomes universal, the intimate becomes collective. Theatre, here, is resistance, healing, and imagination fused into one.” – Juliano Mer-Khamis

Origins and Development

The production was conceived in 2009 as part of TFT’s Acting School curriculum. Drawing from students’ lived experiences in Jenin Refugee Camp, the play reflects both personal and collective memory. TFT collaborated with international volunteers and trainers to develop a performance that is simultaneously local and globally resonant.

Concept and Artistic Approach

  • Uses physical theatre, movement, and mask work to convey emotion and narrative.

  • Relies on non-verbal storytelling to cross linguistic barriers and communicate universal human experiences.

  • Blends trauma, memory, and social commentary into a coherent artistic vision.

Political & Social Context

  • Set in Jenin Refugee Camp, a densely populated site shaped by decades of conflict and occupation.

  • Explores the effects of military occupation, systemic oppression, and societal trauma on children and young adults.

  • Theatre serves as both cultural resistance and a tool for empowerment.

Performance History

  • Jenin, Palestine: July 2009 – multiple performances during the Children & Youth Theatre Festival.

  • Germany & Austria Tour: September–October 2009 – venues included Theater Willy Praml (Frankfurt), Dschungel Wien (Vienna), Schauspiel Leipzig (Leipzig).

  • Audience Reception: Acclaimed for its emotional depth, innovative physical theatre, and universality of themes.

Themes

  • Occupation and resilience

  • Childhood and socialization under conflict

  • Cultural identity and memory

  • Community, hope, and collective agency

  • The transformative power of art

Critical Notes & Community Impact

  • Praised for authenticity and innovative use of physical theatre.

  • Stimulated educational dialogue and cross-cultural awareness.

  • Empowered students to transform personal and community trauma into creative expression.

Partners & Support

  • ArtAction, SIDA, UNFPA

  • KinderKulturKarawane (Germany/Austria Tour)

  • Collaboration with Arab American University, Jenin

Practical Info

  • Duration: 70 minutes

  • Content Advisory: Contains depictions of conflict and trauma. Recommended for audiences 14+

  • Target Audience: Theatre enthusiasts, educators, youth, and international audiences interested in socially engaged performance.

Archival & Academic Note

  • Continues to be referenced in studies of Palestinian theatre and cultural resistance.

  • Inspired a 2011 documentary highlighting the transformative journey of former youth under occupation into artists and cultural leaders.