The Freedom Theatre is coming to the UK this week! Throughout June, Nabil Al-Raee (Artistic Director) accompanied by Zoe Lafferty (Associate Director) will present cultural resistance and The Freedom Theatre’s struggle for creation under occupation; accompanied by screenings of short films and documentaries about the theatre.
The Freedom Theatre was built in the heart of the Palestinian resistance in Jenin Refugee Camp in 2006. The aim was to create a political and artistic movement of theatre and filmmakers who could fight oppression through art. Due to the provocative nature of the work the theatre has received numerous threats, had its building attacked, its members interrogated and imprisoned and in 2011 the theatre’s General Director Juliano Mer Khamis was murdered. The theatre has nevertheless managed to continue to grow and has received international acclaim for its productions, some of which have toured internationally.
Nabil Al-Raee was born in Al-Aroub Refugee Camp in Palestine and is a musician, actor, director and teacher. He has worked across the world including Europe, the Middle East, Japan and America. Nabil has been based at The Freedom Theatre since 2006 and took over as artistic director after Juliano Mer Khamis was murdered in 2011. In 2012 he was arrested by the Israeli army for his work and spent forty days in prison.
Zoe Lafferty is a British-born theatre director, whose work has led her to Palestine, Japan, Afghanistan, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Europe and America. She is Associate Director at The Freedom Theatre where she has worked since 2009.
PROGRAM OF EVENTS
NOTTINGHAM
TIME: 7pm
DATE: 12th June
VENUE: Cappuchaino Cafe 44 Carrington Street Nottingham NG1 7FG
CCA, GLASGOW
TIME: 6pm
DATE: 13th June
VENUE: Centre for Contemporary Arts, 350 Sauchiehall Street, G2 3JD
BELFAST, IRELAND
TIME: 7pm
DATE: 14th June
VENUE: Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich, 216 Falls Road, The Gaeltacht Quarter, Belfast, BT12 6AH
SOAS, LONDON
TIME: 6pm
DATE: 16th June
VENUE: MBI Al Jaber Seminar Room, 12 Russell Square SOAS, Centre for Palestine Studies and London Middle East Institute, LMEI,
FRIARGATE THEATRE, YORK
TIME: 7:30pm
DATE: 17th June
VENUE: Friargate Theatre, Lower Friargate, York YO1 9SL
THE YOUNG VIC, LONDON
TIME: 7pm
DATE: 18th June
VENUE: The Young Vic, 66 The Cut, London SE1 8LZ
(for Young Vic Genius Directors only)
COVENTRY UNIVERSITY
TIME: 6pm
DATE: 19th June
VENUE: Jaguar Building, Room JA152, Coventry University.
Organised by Global Leadership Programme, Coventry University and Coventry Friends of Palestine.
WILTON MUSIC HALL, LONDON
TIME: 7:30pm
DATE: 23rd June
VENUE: Wilton Music Hall, 1 Graces Alley, E1 8JB
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND BOOKINGS:
The Freedom Theatre UK Friends
[email protected]
+44 777 5697202
www.thefreedomtheatreukfriends.com