The Freedom Theatre is one of the most remarkable institutions in
occupied Palestine, and indeed the world. Nestled in Jenin refugee
camp in the West Bank, the theatre has faced attacks, threats,
imprisonment of many functionaries, and the assassination of its
co-founder. And yet the theatre has not only endured, it has grown,
from a provisional hall with rented plastic chairs to one of
Palestine's most prominent cultural centres. Today, it educates
actors, technicians, cultural workers, photographers, filmmakers and
teachers, tours in the West Bank and internationally with its
characteristically strong and moving art, and has created a network
of partners across the globe. This book depicts the theatre's
history, work, and vision through some of its key people. It gives
room to thorough analyses of the context in which it operates and of
the concept of Cultural Resistance, which is central to its work.
Palestinian and international artists, academics and activists
associated with the theatre, contribute personal and professional
perspectives on the phenomenon that is The Freedom Theatre. This is
as much a documentation of the work of The Freedom Theatre in its
first ten years as it is a testament to its growing significance as a
source of inspiration in Palestine and around the world.