Live Performances in Tunisia and Egypt

Throughout 2024, The Freedom Theatre faced immense challenges due to the ongoing military assaults on Jenin Refugee Camp and the devastating war on Gaza. These circumstances deeply affected our operations, team mobility, and project continuity, including activities planned under project #54752.

Context: Jenin Under Siege, Gaza in Ruins

The year began with recurring Israeli military incursions into Jenin Refugee Camp, resulting in widespread destruction, targeted arrests, and the forced displacement of many residents. The Freedom Theatre was not spared. Our facilities were raided, equipment destroyed, and several of our core team members were under threat.

In December 2023, our General Manager, Mustafa Sheta, was arrested and placed under administrative detention without charge. This deeply disrupted our leadership and capacity to travel, fundraise, and implement planned international performances.

At the same time, the war on Gaza escalated to one of the most devastating chapters in recent Palestinian history. The cultural and artistic community was heavily impacted, with partners, artists, and spaces across the region affected or silenced.

Project Activities and Adjustments

1. Cancellation of Planned Travel to Egypt and Tunisia
Due to the arrests, mobility restrictions, and the impossibility of securing travel permits for our core ensemble, we were unable to carry out the planned performances in Egypt and Tunisia under this project. The loss of freedom of movement and constant insecurity in Jenin made coordination and travel for the original team unfeasible.

2. Alternative International Exchange: Norway (June 2024)
Despite these challenges, we managed to revive an international component of the project by sending a group of our theatre students to Norway in mid-2024. This was a major achievement under the circumstances and involved intensive logistical coordination to secure permits, ensure safety, and prepare the students artistically and emotionally for the journey.

The Norway visit included:

• A presentation of student-devised scenes and storytelling from Jenin.

• Cultural exchange workshops with local youth and artists.

• Advocacy events highlighting the situation in Palestine, especially Jenin and Gaza.

This opportunity became a powerful act of cultural resilience and a platform for Palestinian youth voices to be heard in Europe when many other avenues were blocked.

Impact and Learning

While the original goals of the project had to be restructured, the pivot toward student empowerment and international advocacy aligned with our mission. We consider the Norway exchange a success given the difficult political and humanitarian context. It allowed:

• Our students to experience international travel, most for the first time.

• The sharing of Palestinian narratives directly from youth affected by occupation.

• A reassertion of our cultural presence despite military and systemic attempts to silence us.

Ongoing Challenges

The following realities significantly shaped our project outcomes:

• The arrest and absence of leadership severely impacted operational continuity.

• Travel bans, surveillance, and visa barriers prevented the original ensemble from participating in regional festivals.

• The Gaza war shifted international focus and funding priorities, creating additional uncertainty for Palestinian cultural institutions.

Conclusion and Next Steps

While we were unable to implement the original plan for live performances in Egypt and Tunisia, the project adapted with resilience and creativity under fire. The international exchange with Norway became a healing and empowering experience for our students, and a statement that Palestinian theatre continues to live and speak—even from the margins of war zones.

We remain committed to reactivating the cancelled performances when conditions allow, and to continuing our mission of cultural resistance and artistic expression under occupation.

With gratitude for your continued support,

The Freedom Theatre Team
Jenin Refugee Camp, Palestine
2024

Links:

• https://www.facebook.com/thefreedomtheatre