The social and economic (that is, human) circumstances in Gaza are critical and our partners in Theatre for Everybody are working flat out in the recovery effort. Much of their and their colleagues’ work is concerned with psycho-social support.
This is the latest United Nations report on the situation in Gaza: Click here.
Our friends in Theatre for Everybody are working with Ma’an Development Centre and War Child Holland
We have decided that in order to pursue our project Jonathan Chadwick needs to visit Gaza. This trip is planned for February 2015.
It is not going to be easy to get in. Entry is through Israel. The Egyptian border at Rafah is uncertain and the Sinai region through which the traveler must pass is too dangerous. So we are organising invitations and making contact with all the people who may be able to help with this visit. There is a possibility that Jonathan will spend a week in the West Bank before the Gaza visit. This will help confirm the permissions and co-ordination necessary for entry to Gaza.
This blog will keep you updated about progress.
Also we are running an event at Rich Mix on Sunday 18th January 2015 at 3pm. This will be a benefit to raise money for this trip.
This will be a public reading of Jonathan Chadwick’s stage adaptation of RESURRECTION, Tolstoy’s last novel. Find out more.
Az Theatre and Theatre for Everybody in Gaza have worked together since 2002. Since 2009 we have initiated a ten-year project, Gaza Drama Long Term. The latest phase is aimed at the production of an original Arabic stage adaptation of Tolstoy’s War and Peace. Hossam Madhoun has created an Arabic translation of a stage adaptation by pioneer theatre-maker, Erwin Piscator. This work is the basis for the initial workshops with a company of actors in Gaza. Az has raised money for this work through individual donations, contributions from Street Theatre Workshop Trust and the British Shalom Salaam Trust. We also held a fundraising event at Rich Mix on Sunday 14th September which included readings of the PIscator version of War and Peace alongside plays by Caryl Churchill, Hassan Abdulrazzak and Haifa Zangana with messages from our partners in Gaza and a public skype conversation with them. However because of the attack on Gaza from July through to September the initial workshops have been held up. This blog will keep you updated about progress.