By Johanna Wallin | Communications Officer
“It is very exciting to welcome the Freedom Theatre’s tour of their new play ‘The Siege’ to Britain. This is real political theatre, performed out of the both terrible and inspiring experience of a struggle for freedom and justice. They are living proof that telling stories and entertaining audiences are powerful acts of resistance to oppression. Do go and see them, they have news for us. This little theatre could change the world.” Howard Brenton, playwright
Dear friend,
February is upon us and here at The Freedom Theatre in Jenin Refugee Camp, we are busy rehearsing our brand new production, The Siege, which will go on a West Bank tour in April before it continues to the UK in May-June for the theatre's first-ever British tour. The Siege will be the biggest touring production ever performed in Britain by a Palestinian theatre company. For us it is a dream come true - and your support made it happen!
The Siege is inspired by the true stories of a group of fighters who during the height of the second Intifada took refuge in the Church of the Nativity, while the Israeli army closed in, paralyzing the center of Bethlehem and keeping tens of thousands under curfew. Along with the fighters were some 200 priests, nuns and civilians. The siege lasted for 39 days.
The directors traced the fighters who are now exiled across Europe and collected their untold accounts of an event that with time has taken on almost mythical proportions.
Opening
April 4, 15:00 at The Freedom Theatre in Jenin Refugee Camp
This day is also the memorial of the unsolved 2011 murder of Juliano Mer Khamis, co-founder of The Freedom Theatre. On this day we remember and honour Juliano’s life, work and legacy, while we repeat our demand that those responsible for this crime be brought to justice.
The opening of The Siege and the memorial will be live streamed to enable those outside of Jenin to join us.
Other West Bank performances
The Freedom Theatre: April 5-12 (details to follow).
West Bank tour: April 13-18
Performances in Ramallah/Birzeit, Bethlehem and Hebron (details to follow).
UK tour: May 13-June 20
Performances confirmed thus far:
THE LOWRY (Manchester) 13th-14th May
LAKESIDE THEATRE (Colchester) 16th May
BAC (London) 19th-23rd May
THE HUB (Leeds) 26th May
ST MARY IN THE CASTLE (Hastings) 28th May
THE MERLIN (Frome) 30th May
BIRMINGHAM REP (Birmingham) 4th-6th June
NOTTINGHAM PLAYHOUSE (Nottingham) 10th-11th June
THE TRON (Glasgow) 17th-20th June
The tour will be organized by The Friends Of The Freedom Theatre UK, a network of over 300 people in Britain who are engaged in the theatre’s activities. They are always looking for more people to join them, so do get in touch if you are interested in becoming involved somehow. Read more here.
Once again thank you so much for your generous support! We hope to get the chance to meet you in person when we come to the UK. In the meantime, stay updated about The Siege here.
Links:
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