Annual Report 2017 by The Freedom Theatre

The Freedom Theatre Organisational overview Annual Report 2017 Summary of activities 2018

Vision

The Freedom Theatreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vision is a cultural resistance movement at the core of a free and critical Palestinian society.

Mission

Through cultural resistance, The Freedom Theatre aims to raise a new generation that is able to challenge all forms of oppression.

Objectives

- To train professionals in the field of theatre, pedagogics and media to provide human resources for the enhancement of the cultural and artistic sector in Palestine - To work in our community in order to strengthen collaboration, self-awareness, creativity and imagination - To produce state of the art and thought-provoking theatre and media products and perform them locally, regionally and internationally - To advocate good governance, accountability, equality, integrity and justice in Palestine, advocate for Palestinian rights internationally and promote The Freedom Theatre locally and internationally - To maintain good administrative and management procedures in TFT

Cultural resistance

For the oppressed, the arts have always been a powerful tool against the oppressors. For us Palestinians, artistic expression is an integrated part of our struggle for freedom, justice and equality. We are subjected to apartheid, colonisation and military rule. This conditions and gives direction to our work at The Freedom Theatre. We are part of a movement, and our contribution to it is to create a platform for cultural resistance. Cultural resistance means different things for different people. Our own definition at The Freedom Theatre has grown out of our experiences during the past twelve years and is rooted in our practical work, as well as in our analysis of the reality around us. From our perspective, cultural resistance is not a substitute for any other form of resistance; it is a complement. Various forms of resistance can be described as a large mosaic where each stone represents a different form. Cultural resistance is one of the stones - but not just any stone: it is the stone that gives the entire mosaic a pattern, meaning and direction.

How The Freedom Theatre operates Membership

TFT is a membership organisation. Members include current and former students, friends and partners as well as other residents of the Jenin area. TFT also has international members. Anyone above the age of 18 who has a basic understanding of TFT can become a member, but in order to vote at the general assembly or be elected to the board, members must have a Palestinian ID. Membership is open all year except one month before the general assembly. In addition to the general assembly, members are invited to at least one member meeting every year.

The Freedom Theatre - Organisational overview - Annual Report 2017 - Summary of Activities 2018

ORGANISATIONAL OVERVIEW

Members are also encouraged to volunteer at TFT, and they are updated on the operations through a regular digest, as well as frequent updates on social media. TFT aims for all members to be actively engaged, and is committed to taking into consideration the membersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; suggestions and ideas.

The Board of Trustees

The Freedom Theatre Board of Trustees is elected annually in a general assembly that takes place each May. The board of trustees must have a minimum of 7 members and a maximum of 13 members and must elect a chairperson, vice-chairperson, secretary and treasurer according to the bylaws of The Freedom Theatre. The board members are not paid. They meet at least once every three months and are responsible for implementing the annual plan as approved by the general assembly within the framework of TFTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bylaws. The general secretary provides the board with quarterly reports (see below). The board is responsible for leading the organisation and implementing the mandate given to them by the general assembly.

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee (EC) consists of the programme coordinators and senior managers of TFT as well as one ordinary and one substitute elected staff members. The general secretary chairs the EC. The EC manages the ongoing operations of the organisation, concerning its policies and process manuals. The EC meets once a week. Half the EC members are elected by the general secretary and the other half by the staff members of The Freedom Theatre.

General Secretary

The general secretary is employed by the Board and is responsible for overseeing the annual plan and that appropriate policies and procedures are followed.

Program Coordinators

The programme coordinators are responsible for implementing and overseeing the activities that fall under their particular programme, as well as compiling reports for the general secretary so that progress can be monitored.

Quarterly reports

Every three months, the programme coordinators and accounting department report on their progress to the general secretary, and the general secretary reports back to the board. That way the organisation minimises the risk of diverting from the original plan and it makes all implementing parties accountable to their commitments.

Public domain

Most of the documentation of TFT is considered to lie within the public domain and may be retrieved by contacting the general secretary with a letter stating the intention along with contact information.

The Freedom Theatre - Organisational overview - Annual Report 2017 - Summary of Activities 2018

Spaces

TFT operates mainly from its theatre, workshop and office complex in Jenin refugee camp and its rehearsal hall in Jenin town. The facilities include: • A150-seat theatre and cinema hall, changing rooms, storage and technical workshop as well as a rehearsal space. Fully accessible by wheelchair. • A set and general storage space. • An office with six rooms and a common meeting space. • A meeting/lunch room with merchandise display corner and a kitchen. • A rehearsal hall, library, costume storage and changing rooms, as well as rest and kitchen areas with full wheelchair access. • A child activity space with two playrooms with full wheelchair access. • A cinema room with partial wheelchair access.

Financial and human resource procedures

The Freedom Theatre’s financial and HR work is regulated by a set of manuals and policies that describe the correct procedures of implementation. TFT maintains a separation between its petty cash and accounts. TFT incomes are divided between four main sources: • Friends Association initiatives (10-15%). • Crowdfunding (5-10%). • Sales of artistic products and promotional merchandise (5-10%). • Grants from donor agencies (65-80%) More information about TFT’s structure can be found on the website The Friends of The Freedom Theatre are associations formed of people who believe in the work of The Freedom Theatre. The support of these groups has from the start been essential to the continuation and growth of TFT. The current groups are located in USA, Portugal, Sweden, UK and France.

Financial control and transparency

The Freedom Theatre’s accounts are audited on an annual basis by an internationally certified audit agency. The auditors review the accounts of The Freedom Theatre and make sure that TFT operates in line with its set by-laws, which include a review of the minutes of the board and the number of meetings that have been held, as well as the member lists and records from the general assemblies. At times, this also includes specific projects. The auditors in 2012 and 2016 were Dahbour Auditing Establishment, and 2013-2015, 2017 Ernst & Young.

The Freedom Theatre Foundation

In 2006, The Freedom Theatre was registered as a Swedish Foundation due to the fact that at that time it was not possible to register new Palestinian organisations. In 2007, when it became possible to register new organisations, The Freedom Theatre registered with the Palestinian Ministry of Interior as a non-profit association. At that time the Swedish Foundation handed over its assets to the Palestinian association after an agreement had been set up between the two organisations. Until today the Swedish Foundation continues to operate and provide a legal platform for TFT to operate on, under the regulation of a highly respected international board.

2017 IN BRIEF

2017, our eleven-year anniversary, was an exceptional year for The Freedom Theatre. Around 12,000 children, youth and adults in Jenin refugee camp and across the occupied West Bank were involved in our workshops, trainings and performances in theatre, photo, film and creative writing, all aiming to generate critical perspectives, reimagine reality, challenge oppression and resist the occupation. One of the main highlight of 2017 was The Freedom Theatre’s first ever tour in New York City with The Siege. The play was an artistic reflection on the Israeli army’s 39-day siege of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem during the height of the second intifada in 2002. Performances were accompanied by discussions, as well as panels and events examining the complexity of viewpoints surrounding one of the world’s most troubling political situations and human rights issues. The Siege was performed at the NYU Skirball Center for Performing Arts, New York. A big theatre venue, a 10-day run with over 3,500 tickets sold. The play received several reviews, including both national and international press and the co-directors, Nabil Al-Raee and Zoe Lafferty, were interviewed on national public radio. The Theatre School students and graduates performed and toured Return to Palestine in Pakistan, Jordan and Kuwait – all for the first time - as well as several villages and cities in the West Bank, reaching audiences of over 2,500 people. For many it was their first theatre experience. The response was overwhelmingly positive, which testifies to the quality of the play as well as the need for more cultural experiences in Palestine. “This show changed my mind: the stories that you tell and doing everything in a small space gave me hope that we can liberate Palestine through theatre and art. I will tell all my friends, I will continue to defend our cause, thank you, thank you.” Rima, audience member in Jericho

“This work is amazing, very detailed, in it you have all different kind of feelings: the play makes you smile, laugh, cry, think, imagine.” Anas, audience member in Ramallah “I can’t thank you more for what you have done for us. This performance was amazing: it was very emotional but also very important.” Father of Malek (martyr who is featured in the play), Dheisheh refugee camp This year marked the graduation of the participants of TFT›s one-ofa-kind training programme in early childhood education, a one-year programme that included a two-week intensive study visit to Sweden. We introduced theatre clubs for children and youth in Jenin as well as surrounding villages and towns in the northern West Bank; we also held a large summer camps focusing on theatre, photography, painting and dance and arranged a workshop in photography for children and young people with special needs. Our photography and caricature students made two exhibitions, Hidden Stories and Freedom of Expression. The first exhibition told stories that have become invisible in daily life. The exhibition was also presented at two venues in Wales; a first for The Freedom Theatre. Close friend of The Freedom Theatre, artist and cartoonist Mohammad Sabaaneh led an intensive cartoon workshop at the theatre which focused on methods of painting and drawing, and how to draw faces and bodies from different angles and in ways that can deliver specific messages and ideas. The workshop resulted in an exhibition, Freedom of Expression in cooperation with Cartoonists Rights Network International, CRNI. The exhibitions were shown to 350 audience members in Palestine and abroad. The Freedom Theatre was also invited to conferences, festivals, talks and events in Kuwait, USA, Pakistan, Sweden and Jordan, bringing the concept of cultural resistance to an international audience. We

The Freedom Theatre - Organisational overview - Annual Report 2017 - Summary of Activities 2018

ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2017

hosted over 1,000 international guests at The Freedom Theatre who received a presentation of our work which was often followed by a tour of Jenin Refugee Camp. We reached over 1.5 million through our social media channels. In all of these ways TFT brought the Palestinian cause to a diverse and international audience.

interventions of the role local councils play in supporting youth work, reviewing the role and experiences of several institutions and youth centres, the role of youth in national policy and the national youth act promoting youth participation to communicate the Palestinian national vision.

2017 saw The Freedom Theatre’s first-ever workshop for international theatre activists. Our team led nine participants, from Ireland, England, Sweden, Denmark, USA, and Canada, on an exciting journey that enabled artists from abroad to explore our unique methods and to devise a performance together with our artists.

In Palestine, our performances, workshops and events promoted the unifying idea of one people under several forms of occupation and oppression. New collaborations emerged and existing partnerships deepened. We organised a cultural event at The Freedom Theatre to mark International Women›s day, with over 250 people coming together to recognise the achievements of Palestinian women, and which highlighted the many challenges that arise on the road to gender equality and women’s full participation in all sectors of society.

The Freedom Theatre proudly presented the first stand-up comedy show by young emerging Palestinian talents, who had worked intensively with British comedians Mark Thomas and Sam Beale, with the aim of establishing the first comedy club in Palestine. The shows were dedicated to the over 1,500 Palestinian prisoners in occupation prisons who were on an open-ended hunger strike for freedom and dignity, in April 2017. Throughout Ramadan, The Freedom Theatre offered cultural events every Thursday night after iftar (the meal that breaks the fast) which included hip hop, classical music, stand-up comedy and much more, showcasing young Jenin talent. During Ramadan we also screened films for children, every Sunday and Wednesday to provide a space for the children during the long summer days. In November, The Freedom Theatre, for the first time, hosted a Youth Forum in partnership with the Community Development Step in Arrabe village, the Pioneers for Yabad Group, and the Taa’yush Charity Association in Zebabdeh village. The forum provided a platform for young people to share their experiences of youth work with centres in and around the wider Jenin area. It presented various ideas and

The Palestinian Performing Arts Network (PPAN), of which TFT is a founding member, organised a conference, focusing on ‘The Impact of Arts on Communities, the first of its kind in Palestine. The aim of the conference was to highlight the arts as a tool for influencing communities on different levels, and for encouraging communities to make social, political, economic and educational change. Supporting graduates of the Theatre School with further training, work opportunities and collaborations has been and continues to be a focus for TFT. The comedy workshop and the theatre clubs for youth in locations around Jenin are examples of how we materialise this goal. Another example of our commitment to the continued success of our graduates is our work in enabling the newly established company Palestinian Laughter Liberation, created by The Freedom Theatre artists Alaa Shehada and Faisal Abu Alhayjaa, to embark on a West Bank tour. Several of our graduates were also involved in this year’s summer camp.

The Freedom Theatre - Organisational overview - Annual Report 2017 - Summary of Activities 2018

THEATRE Theatre School

The Freedom Theatre School is a three-year educational programme which focuses on acting, devising and cultural resistance. While gaining professional acting skills, our students are encouraged to engage in their communities using drama as a tool for social and political change. The class of 2017 graduated in January and then most of the graduates continued to be involved in TFT as actors and theatre club/ summer camp facilitators; the next class of Theatre School student is scheduled to begin in September 2018. This has given us a period of time to reflect on how to improve the existing course and curriculum and to to create a more cohesive and advanced program for the new class of students. Productions and Performances This year Return to Palestine was re-introduced with an extensive tour of the West Bank, shows in Amman, as well participation at festivals in Pakistan and Kuwait. Palestine, represented by The Freedom Theatre, participated in the Kuwait Youth Theatre Festival, held on October 15 in Kuwait City. Return to Palestine, a play based on extensive story-gathering through playback theatre with communities across the West Bank, includes stories from Jenin Refugee Camp, Jenin town, Fasayel, and Dheisheh refugee camps, Mufaqara, and Gaza. In a sarcastic, comic and tragic style, the actors create the physical and emotional space they live in with their bodies on a very small stage – as small as Palestine. Our team were competing against 12 other countries from the Middle East and Gulf region, vying for the first price for Best Theatrical Show. “This was truly a momentous occasion for The Freedom Theatre” says Mohammed Moawia, head of multimedia at the theatre. “Our first time competing against our Arab neighbours was both exciting and intimidating, however, the team performed brilliantly against stiff

competition. The response from the audience was incredible and we felt proud to bring new theatre techniques to the international theatre community.” Having lost out on the top prize, to Kuwait no less, Samer Abu Hantash, live musician in the play, won the award for Best Music and Effect. The Siege, originally produced in 2015, was re-staged and performed to new audiences in Jenin before embarking on our first ever tour to the USA. The play highlights the 2002 siege of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. In October, The Siege opened to a full house at NYU’s Skirball Center for the Performing Arts in New York City. It was, in the words of Aviva Stahl in The Village Voice, “a momentous cultural occasion: the entrance of a Palestinian theatre company onto the New York stage, performing a Palestinian work that hinges on the voices and political perspectives of Palestinian people. The Siege does exactly what great art should: It destabilises and upends the fundamental assumptions that shape our moral and political world. It’s uncomfortable, and it should be.” In total, over 7,500 people attended our performances in Jenin refugee camp and elsewhere in the West Bank. Internationally, we reached audiences of over 4,000 directly and many more indirectly through social media and news reports.

The Freedom Theatre - Organisational overview - Annual Report 2017 - Summary of Activities 2018

MULTIMEDIA Photography

The multimedia team ran three photography courses for students, children and adults. These groups produced two exhibitions, one of which focused on uncovering stories that had become hidden in daily life. Hidden Stories was the outcome of an advanced photography workshop where the participants were encouraged to carefully and critically observe the environment around them. The students found stories about the consequences of the Nakba, of the old houses that still remain, the wish to protect the environment, and the value of strong cohesion within families. This exhibition had an audience of 300.

Caricature workshop

The Freedom Theatre’s cartoon workshop led by artist Mohammad Sabaaneh. Sabaaneh, known in Palestine and internationally for his art, worked with our multimedia team to open the world of cartoon and caricature painting to young people in Jenin which resulted in an exhibition, Freedom of Expression in September 2017. 14 young women and men participated in the workshop. The caricatures displayed in the exhibition talk about Freedom of Expression in its many forms; writing, speaking, art and music. Many of them commented on the often violent repression of freedom of expression by the Israeli occupation and the increasing censorship by the Palestinian Authority. Others focused on the self-censorship exercised among Palestinians. The caricatures are radical, brave and the message is loud and clear: freedom of expression is a human right and it needs to be protected and defended. The workshop focused on methods of painting and drawing, and how to draw faces and bodies from different angles and in ways that can deliver specific messages and ideas. For Sabaaneh, the workshop and exhibition on freedom of expression is part of the cultural resistance that The Freedom Theatre is engaged in. “This workshop is only the beginning”, he said, “aimed at opening the eyes of young people to the art form, increase their awareness and give them tools to continue to learn. We will continue, together, and hopefully publish a book as the outcome of this initiative.”

Film Screenings

In 2016 Jenin lost its only cinema when Cinema Jenin was demolished, since then TFT have been doing our bit to keep the culture of cinema alive in our community by offering film screenings and discussions for children, youth and adults from Jenin camp and the wider Jenin area; some films were screened in cooperation with the Danish House in Palestine.

Publications

This year, The Freedom Theatre published one issue of the youth magazine ‘Voices’. 1,000 copies were distributed to young people in schools in the Jenin area and also made available online. One issue of ‘Voices’ had a special focus on the subject of Palestinian political prisoners and the 2017 hunger strike for freedom and dignity. The magazine is distributed for free to secondary schools in Jenin and to youth in other areas of occupied Palestine. Rehearsing Freedom: The Story of a Theatre in Palestine’, our most recent photography book extraordinaire, a true labour of love edited by The Freedom Theatre’s Johanna Wallin, designed by Sherna Dastur and published by LeftWord Books, won the Publishing Next Award for Best Illustrated Book of the Year in India. ‘Rehearsing Freedom: The Story of a Theatre in Palestine’ is a visual journey through the first ten years of the work and life of The Freedom Theatre. This volume presents, for the first time, the story of The Freedom Theatre in its own voice, through rare archival photographs and text. It is a precious record of multifarious challenges facing the cultural resistance movement in Palestine, and the ability of a group of determined people to undertake creation under occupation.

Since The Freedom Theatre’s Child Centre opened its doors in February 2016, we have provided a fun and educational space for children to learn and grow. In 2017 we built upon the lessons of the previous year to continue to develop local teachers’ capacity to facilitate the children’s learning through creativity and play. A one-year training programme, launched in 2016, continued in full force The program followed extensive research and involved both Palestinian and international specialists in early childhood education. 12 participants, mainly preschool teachers and preschool managers from across the Jenin area, explored how to create a high-quality pedagogical environment that takes advantage of children’s inherent curiosity, creativity and desire to discover the world. The training programme has three main components: theory, action and reflection. Topics covered include ‘The world of the child’, ‘The holistic child: physical, social, emotional and cognitive development’, ‘The importance of play in child development and learning’, ‘Learning in nature and learning through art’, ‘Creating positive group dynamics and healthy relations between children and child-teacher’, and ‘Health and Safety, including child nutrition and first aid.’ Theoretical lectures were combined with reflection sessions and practical application. The participants completed the programme in November after which a graduation ceremony was held to honour and celebrate their achievement. Building on the success of the summer camp in 2016, this summer we held a three-week summer camp for over 40 children aged between 8-12 years. Our summer camp provided all the children with the opportunity to learn, explore and create. Over the three weeks the children enjoyed a wide range of artistic activities, including theatre, crafts, dance, painting, photography and music. Teambuilding exercises were also held to encourage the children to come up with creative ways to overcome age and gender barriers.

The Freedom Theatre - Organisational overview - Annual Report 2017 - Summary of Activities 2018

CHILD & YOUTH

Theatre Clubs The theatre clubs are a way for The Freedom Theatre to expand our reach beyond Jenin refugee camp and town, giving space for talented young people across the northern region to explore their passion for theatre and later apply to our professional training in acting, devising and cultural resistance. Through the clubs, we also engage young artists as facilitators and offer them opportunities of capacity-building through training by specialists in drama and theatre. The theatre clubs are also a preparation for the next class of The Freedom Theatre School, aimed to begin in September 2018. The clubs enable talented young people to get experience of theatre so that they can later apply to the school. The Freedom Theatre’s young theatre club participants presented these two contrasting worlds in the kids-for-kids play Trash. We see on one side of the stage a clean street full of plants, flowers and recycle bins, and on the other side a street full of waste and dirt. In fact they are two versions of the same place: Jenin refugee camp. After a long process of research, field trips and workshops, led by Ahmed Tobasi and Alaa Shehada, theatre instructors at The Freedom Theatre and graduates of The Freedom Theatre School, Trash was created in 2016 and further developed in 2017. The play addresses the issue of garbage in the streets and public places and how this littering affects everyone who lives there, but it also talks about the choices we have in deciding which of the worlds we want to live in. It was performed over 5 days in February and attracted an audience of over 500 from Jenin camp and the wider Jenin area. “The main purpose of the play is to give value to things that are not considered valuable and to promote good habits on sanitation: not only in terms of personal hygiene or keeping the places around us clean, but also to clean our thoughts and our society in order for us to achieve real independence and freedom.” Ahmed Tobasi, director of Trash.

The Freedom Theatre - Organisational overview - Annual Report 2017 - Summary of Activities 2018

“In general we focused on giving the children experiences that were out of the ordinary for them; taking them out of their everyday lives of moving from home to school to the street. We went to the swimming pool - they love water! We took them to the forest, which is close by but still very few of the children had been there before.” Alaa Shehada, theatre summer camp facilitator. In cooperation with the association Ta’ayoush, The Freedom Theatre’s Raneen Odeh and Ameer Abu Alrob, graduates of The Freedom Theatre School, led theatre clubs with young women and men in Zebabdeh village, Arrabe village and Yaabad village – all in the northern West Bank. The clubs used group-building exercises and focus games, encouraging the participants to use their imagination, having fun by dancing and discovering the body, as well as discovering the space and how to move within it. Two short performances were created at the end of September; The Book of the North about the greed and arrogance of man, and how he can be the victim of his own ambitions. The second play, Confusion tackled issues around the position of girls and women in the community, while simultaneously questioning many of the social restrictions that limit the roles available to both women and men. During a four-week period in November, our theatre club trainers Vaimoana Niumeitolu and Michelle Roche worked with the young people of Jenin Refugee Camp to create a short presentation about dreams – a place where all things are possible. Only nine children attended the first class, but when news spread around the camp about the new project, our classes grew week by week, and in the end over 30 children participated in the final presentation! In December the theatre club participants performed Dreamland to an audience of over 200, some of whom who had waited almost two hours just to make sure they didn’t miss out on the show!

The Freedom Theatre - Organisational overview - Annual Report 2017 - Summary of Activities 2018

OTHER EVENTS Festival and Forum on Cultural Resistance

One of the most significant events in 2017 was the Celebration of Cultural Resistance festival in April. This event commemorated The Freedom Theatre’s eleven years of being part of the vibrant cultural resistance movement in Palestine, the anniversary of the unsolved 2011 murder of our co-founder Juliano Mer Khamis, as well as of the large scale invasion of Jenin refugee camp in 2002. Through performances, discussions, film screenings, photo exhibitions and the graduation ceremony of our latest class of Theatre School students, we once again expressed our deep belief in the power of cultural resistance to promote progressive analytical thinking and nourish a collective identity that enables us all to stand strong against injustice and oppression. Over 600 people from Palestine and abroad visited the festival and enjoyed the performances, of which a re-staging of Return to Palestine was the highlight, and a local stakeholders conference focusing on ‘The Culture of Resistance in Palestine.’ International Women’s Day The Freedom Theatre was filled to the brim on International Women’s Day, with over 300 people coming together to recognise the achievements of Palestinian women and highlight the many challenges ahead on the road to gender equality and women’s full participation in all sectors of society. With theatre, music, film, dance and discussions, we celebrated the achievements of Palestinian women and highlighted the struggle for women’s liberation which is an integral part of cultural resistance in Palestine.

International Workshop

The Freedom Theatre’s first-ever workshop for international theatre activists was introduced in April 2017. 25 Professional artists, theatre students and teachers, were invited to The Freedom Theatre, where Micaela Miranda and Nabil Al-Raee offered intensive training for actors of resistance, preparing their bodies, minds and spirits for such work, as well as presenting the practice and theory of The Freedom Theatre’s work. Over seven days, the group explored stories which highlighted the interconnected personal, social and political dimensions of human experience. Using methods practiced at The Freedom Theatre they considered themes of individual freedom and collective responsibility, all within the context of the power of art to instil hope and effect change.

Hosting Performances, Events and Organisations

The Freedom Theatre hosted performances by Al Harah Theatre, Beit Bute, Rasael Theatre, Nabd Theatre, The Palestinian Circus School, as well as individual artists such as Micheal Dobrovski and Louai Belaoui. Throughout the year, we also made our theatre hall and workshop spaces available to other organisations and artists in Jenin, including Al Kamandjati, Naqsh Popular Art, Kay La Nansa, and the Palestinian Circus School, as well as to local kindergartens and associations.

The Freedom Theatre - Organisational overview - Annual Report 2017 - Summary of Activities 2018

In cooperation with The Freedom Theatre and the Palestinian Performing Arts Network, and funded by Sida, the new troupe Palestinian Laughter Liberation presents Bukra el Ard, an experimental comedy performance. Palestinian Laughter Liberation is a physical theatre troupe founded by graduates of The Freedom Theatre School Alaa Shehada and Faisal Abu Alhayjaa. PLL is the first troupe of its kind in Palestine and this is their first production, directed by Micaela Miranda from The Freedom Theatre. PLL use different methods of comedy including stand-up, movement, music, storytelling, clowning, satire and direct interaction with the audience. The troupe believes that comedy can establish a safe space for expression and free-thinking. Their main objective is to create an artistic and social movement in support of constructive criticism as a tool for change. Their philosophy: If you can laugh about it, then you can change it! As always, building bridges and networks at an international level has been one of our priorities. Among the events organised abroad was a screening of Arna’s Children in New York in June: the award-winning documentary directed by The Freedom Theatre co-founder Juliano Mer Khamis, chronicles the lives of children of Jenin refugee camp between and during the two intifadas. A screening of three short films, ‘Journey of a Freedom Fighter’, ‘Maybe’, and ‘The Racer’, made by Suzan Wasfi and Mohammed Moawia from The Freedom Theatre, were also organised in New York. In May, The Freedom Theatre participated in a panel discussion during the Swedish Performing Arts Biennial, Sweden’s largest performing arts festival, and our community theatre play ‘Return to Palestine,’ which toured extensively in the West Bank this year, was performed in Amman on May 29 and Kuwait on October 16. Exciting new international tour opportunities for Return to Palestine are currently being explored for 2018. In November, The Freedom Theatre, for the first time, hosted a Youth Forum in partnership with the Community Development Step in Arrabe village, the Pioneers for Yabad Group and the Taa’yush Charity Association in Zebabdeh village. The forum provided a platform for young people to share their experiences of youth work with centres in and around the wider Jenin area. It presented various ideas and interventions of the role local councils play in supporting youth work, reviewing the role and experiences of several institutions and youth centres, the role of youth in national policy and the national youth act promoting youth participation to communicate the Palestinian National Vision. Our graduate Ahmed Tobasi brought an epic journey of identity and self-discovery to The Freedom Theatre stage, with his monologue And Here I Am. Combining fact and fantasy, tragedy and comedy, spanning both the first Palestinian intifada and the second, the play follows Tobasi through his transformation from armed resistance fighter to artist, and his journey as a refugee from the West Bank to Norway and back again. Tobasi performed And Here I Am at The Freedom Theatre at the end of December before touring the play in 2018 throughout the West Bank Hosting visitors. Over 1,000 people, from both Palestine and abroad, visited the theatre to learn more about our programmes and activities.

The Freedom Theatre - Organisational overview - Annual Report 2017 - Summary of Activities 2018

Social Media

The Freedom Theatre’s online visibility expanded through our intentional efforts to increase our presence in Arabic social media channels. At the end of the year, there were over 23,706 likes on the Arabic and English Facebook pages. • TFT Facebook (English), Likes: 12,745 • TFT Facebook (Arabic), Likes: 10,961 • Freedom Bus Facebook (English), Likes: 4,200 • Twitter, English, Followers: 2,252 • Twitter, Arabic, Followers: 53 • Instagram (English), Followers: 1,380 • Instagram (Arabic), Followers: 1,453 • Websites (2017), users: 41,400 and sessions: 50,100 • Email lists: 16,500 (global), 1,000 (Arabic)

Media coverage

The Freedom Theatre was featured in over 45 media outlets internationally, in countries such as India, Pakistan, Spain, Sweden, USA, UK and Germany. The year in numbers Audience members in Palestine 12,000 Audience members outside Palestine 5,000 Participants in trainings and workshops in Palestine 350 Visitors to The Freedom Theatre 1,000 Palestinian communities toured 17 Performances in Palestine 47 Performances outside Palestine 13 Issues of Voices distributed 1 Media coverage (number of published articles) 100 Countries performed and presented in 5

Membership

The Freedom Theatre Association had 55 members during 2017. The members were encouraged to engage in The Freedom Theatre’s activities as participants, spectators and volunteers, and, in addition to the General Assembly, one meeting was arranged for members. Board of directors The members of the board of The Freedom Theatre, as elected at the General Assembly in May 2016, are the following: 1.Bilal Saadi, Chairperson (BS) 2.Omar Kabeya, Treasurer (OK) 3.Shireen Jarrar, Secretary (SJ) 4.Emad Abu-Hantash, Vice chairperson (EH) 5.Ibrahim Ramadan, Secretary of the artistic committee (IR) 6.Abed Zubeidi (AZ) 7.Mohammad Ruzzi (MR) 8.Ibrahim Abu Khaliefah (IA) 9.Ghassan Tirawi (GT)

NETWORKS AND PARTNERSHIPS

Palestinian Performing Arts Network (PPAN) The Freedom Theatre is a founding and current member of the Palestinian Performing Arts Network (PPAN), which connects performing arts organisations in a network that aims to “contribute towards the development of a democratic and pluralistic society that respects human rights and enhances Palestinian national identity”. By acting as a collective voice towards decision-makers, the network also advocates for arts and culture to be at the forefront of national priorities. PPAN consists of Al Kamandjâti Association, Al-Harah Theatre, A.M. Qattan Foundation, Ashtar for theatre productions and training, El-Funoun Palestinian Popular Dance Troupe, The Edward Said National Conservatory of Music, The Freedom Theatre, The Magnificat Institute, The Palestinian Circus School, Popular Art Centre, Theatre Day Productions, and Yes Theatre. The Palestinian Performing Arts Network organised a conference, a cultural day in Nablus with events in performing arts, as well as several workshops and planning meetings during the year.

Main partners in Palestine 2017 Al-Arroub Camp (Women’s Center) Al Kamandjâti Association, Ramallah Al Kasaba Drama Academy, Ramallah Al Nadi Youth Club, Jenin refugee camp

The Freedom Theatre - Organisational overview - Annual Report 2017 - Summary of Activities 2018

ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES

Al Najda Association, Jenin Al Kasaba Theatre, Ramallah Al Yamoun Municipality, Jenin Arab American University, Jenin Alrowwad Cultural and Arts Society, Aida refugee camp Al Quds Open University, Jenin An Najah University, Nablus Arrabe Cultural Palace, Arrabe Ashtar for Theatre Productions and Trainings, Ramallah Bani Naim town Birzeit University, Ramallah Danish House of Movies, Ramallah Enlightenment Forum, Nablus Girls Rehabilitation Association, Jenin Ibdaa cultural centre, Dheisheh refugee camp Jalameh Municipality Kay La Nansa, Jenin refugee camp Khutwa, Arrabe Little Circus, Nablus Ministry of Education, Jenin Mousa Hafez, Jenin Movie Lab, Ramallah Municipality of Dura, Hebron Municipality of Jericho Municipality of Salfit Municipality of Saida (Tulkarm) Municipality of the village of Faqua Municipality of the village of Zababdeh Naqsh for Popular Art, Jenin Nazareth Troupe for Popular Arts Palestinian Circus School, Birzeit Popular Committee for Services in Jenin refugee camp Quds Art, Jerusalem Refugees Network, Palestine South Hebron Hills Popular Committee UNRWA Schools, Jenin refugee camp

Main international partners

LeftWord Books, India Filosofiska i Sverige, Sweden Gothenburg University, Sweden Riksteatern Gothenburg, Sweden Umma Förskolor, Sweden Folkteatern i Göteborg, Sweden Skirball Center for Performing Arts, USA Department of NYU Tisch Dance, USA tDepartment of NYU Steinhardt Educational Theatre, USA tDepartment of NYU Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, USA Kevorkian Center. USA Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA), USA SilverSea Consulting, UK Tower Hamlets & Jenin Friendship Association, UK General Authority of Youth, Kuwait National Academy of Performing Arts in Pakistan (NAPA)

Friends Associations

As every year, The Freedom Theatre’s Friends Associations have made invaluable contributions to our work, through networking, fundraising and representation all over the world. • Associacao dos Amigos do teatro da Liberdade da Palestina. • Frihetsteaterns Vänförening, Malmö, Göteborg and Stockholm, Sweden. • Les Amis du Théâtre de la Liberté de Jénine, France. • The Friends of The Jenin Freedom Theatre, United States. • UK Friends of The Freedom Theatre, United Kingdom.

The Freedom Theatre - Organisational overview - Annual Report 2017 - Summary of Activities 2018

Wattar Institute for Music, Jenin Women Centre, Jenin refugee camp Women Cooperative, Jenin Women Skills Association, Jenin Yafa Center, Balata refugee camp Yes Theatre, Hebron

Donors and supporters Medico International Playgrounds for Palestine Swedish Institute Creative Force Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) through PPAN Tides Palestinian Cultural Fund We are equally grateful to the many individuals all over the world, who supported the theatre through private donations. Each and every one of them are regarded as members of the extended family of The Freedom Theatre.

Staff

Adnan Naghnaghiye, Location and Stage Manager Ahmed Mattahen, Stage Designer and Theatre Technician Baraa Sharqawi, Photography Instructor Rania Wasfi , HR and Theatre Coordinator Haneen Haj Ibrahim, Social Media Coordinator Isra Mustafa, Accountant Johanna Wallin, Communications Officer Jonatan Stanczak, Program Coordinator Miriyam Abu Ateyah, Housekeeper Mohammed Moawia, Multimedia Coordinator Mustafa Sheta, General Secretary Nabeel Al-Raee, freelance Artistic Supervisor Micaela Miranda, freelance Artistic trainer Sami Saade, Sound Engineer and Theatre Technician Suzan Wasfi, Early Childhood Training Program Coordinator

Volunteers

Ann Mari Engel Thomas Birath Peter Last Terry and Dinky Sabine Stein Agneta Timotej Birgitta Ehlin

Swedish Foundation In addition to being registered as a non-governmental organisation under the Palestinian Authority, The Freedom Theatre is also registered as a foundation in Sweden.

The Freedom Theatre - Organisational overview - Annual Report 2017 - Summary of Activities 2018

Lisa Yankowski Sue Lyle Suzanne Axelsson Isabelle Axelsson Tommy Kriegsman Jane King Mark Thomas Sam Beale Joe Douglas Susan McNicholas Liz Pagett Cecelia Marshall Andreea Midvighi Helle Christensen Henrik Laursen Ismael Jabarine Vaimoana Niumeitolu Jessica Litwak J Litwak daughter Hanna Källdin Nicki La Porte Kristina Löhr Liz Pagett Andy Cummins Asma Patel Michelle Roche Catherine Mooney

THE FREEDOM THEATRE FOUNDATION EXECUTIVE BOARD Avraham Oz Dror Feiler Henry Ascher Judith Butler Taiseer Khatib Luisa Morgantini Salwa Nakkara Suzanne Osten Khulood Badawi

THE FREEDOM THEATRE FOUNDATION HONORARY BOARD Abeer Kopty Elias Khoury Etienne Balibar Howard Brenton Michel Khleifi Noam Chomsky Salim Daw Sana’a Badawi

Friends Associations in USA, UK, France, Sweden & Portugal

January

The Freedom Winter Camp for Kids “And Here I’m” Tour in West Bank Theatres Pippi Longstocking “Jinan” Rehearsals Cine-Club: Screening film in the end of January. Audition: on the play “The Power of Narrative”; Joint Artwork (Palestine / Pakistan)

February

Pippi Longstocking “Jinan” Performances at TFT Hosting of theatrical performances from Al-Harah Theatre (Bethlehem) and YES Theatre (Hebron) Cine-Club: Screening film in the mid of February. Photography workshops for children Advanced photography course Launch of the after-school program A training course in drama for trainers of theatre clubs for youth and children

March

Joint cultural activity on International Women’s Day Theatrical Rehearsals and Performances in Karachi for “The Power of Narrative” play, Directed by Nabeel Al-Raee, in cooperation with the National Academy of Dramatic Arts in Pakistan (NAPA). Cine-Club: Screening film in the mid of March. Photography workshops for children Photo Exhibition Launch of the Theatre Clubs with drama workshops for youth and children in Jenin City and Jenin Camp

April

“Cultural Resistance Festival of Palestinian Theatre” between April 4 to April 7 with theatre performances of the Palestinian theatres; YES, Ishtar and Al-Harah, along with “And Here I’m” in English and “ Return to Palestine “ play TFT participation in a theatrical festival in Portugal (DEVIR CAPA Centro de Artes Performativas do Algarve) with RTP play, alongside the photo exhibition “Shadows” that was produced by the Multimedia Department, from April 10 to April 15. TFT participation in the International Konya Theatre Festival in Turkey with “ Return to Palestine “ from April 20 to April 30. TFT participation in The International Festival of Liberal Theatre in Jordan with“ Return to Palestine “ from April 28 to May 3. Cine-Club: Screening film in the mid of April.

The Freedom Theatre - Organisational overview - Annual Report 2017 - Summary of Activities 2018

FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2017 will be published in April 2018 by Ernst & Young SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES 2018

Photography workshops for children

May

Various artistic activities, a documentary work on the 70th anniversary of the Nakba; a simplified play about the origin of the Nakba novel, depend on The Power of Narrative. A photo exhibition on the 70th anniversary of the Nakba. Invite the theatre administration to participate in university lectures in the U.S.A to talk about the 70th Nakba. Cine-Club: Screening film in the mid of May. The conclusion of the first phase for the after-school program Final promotions for the theatre clubs in its first stage Ramadan activities from mid-May to mid-June (Ramadan from 16/5/2018 until 14/6/2016) Evening cultural and artistic events every Thursday (3 evenings): Thursday 24/5/2018: Theatrical Show Thursday 31/5/2018: Music and singing Thursday 7/6/2018: Stand Up comedy Movie Shows for kids Every Tuesday (4 Movies):

June

Performances the Nakba novel play in Jenin Cine-Club: Screening film in the mid of June. An advanced training course for trainers in the after school program, theatre clubs, and drama workshops for youth and children, in preparation for the summer camp. National Freedom Competition for the most beautiful picture, as follows: Monday 18/6/2018: Announcement of the competition through different means of communication Thursday 13/9/2018: The last date for receiving the participating pictures Thursday 29/11/2018: Organizing a photo exhibition to participate and announce the prize - The exhibition can be organized in Ramallah

July

Pippi Longstocking “Jinan” Performances in West Bank A tour of theatre performances (the Nakba novel) in the West Bank, with participation in local youth festivals. Cine-Club: Screening film in the mid of July. Two photography courses Summer camp for kids, with 50 children between Sunday, 15/7/2018 to Thursday, 9/8/2018, for 3 weeks. With a artistic presentation, the camp will include the following sections: - Teaching children through theatrical games

August

The International Theatre Workshop: The workshop includes a mini-bus touring in Jenin governorate. The outputs of the workshop is presenting the artistic works in the different regions for a week in the context of (Playback & Street Theatre). Cine-Club: Screening film in the mid of August. Preparation for the launch of The Freedom Theatre Acting School

September

Starting The Freedom Theatre Acting School / first semester. Cine-Club: Screening film in the mid of September. A children’s photography group, displaying their work with a picture of each child participating in the projector with a small ceremony The second phase of the after-school program for children Theatre clubs with drama workshops for youth and children in the second stage

October

The tour of “ Return to Palestine “ play in Europe from 8 October to 17 November 2018, includes the following countries: England / Ireland / Sweden / France Cine-Club: Screening film in the mid of October. Specialized workshops and presentations in Stand-Up Comedy and Commedia Dell’arte in the West Bank.

November

“The Siege” play in Norway and Ireland (festivals) Cine-Club: Screening film in the mid of November. Cooperate with Eyes Up Here Productions LLC from US for Skate Play Advanced photography course

December

Possible preparation for “ The Siege “ tour in U.S.A, Canada, and Europe 2019 Cine-Club: Screening film in the mid of December. Professional Photo Exhibition The conclusion of the second phase of the after-school program.

The Freedom Theatre - Organisational overview - Annual Report 2017 - Summary of Activities 2018

- Photography and film making by mobile - Drawing and making puppets - Dabke and dance - Learn English - Circus

The conclusion of the second phase of the theatre clubs in drama workshops for youth and children. The conclusion of the first semester of The Freedom Theatre Acting School

We need you! The Freedom Theatre is a member organisation and we are nothing without our members. As a member, we kindly ask you to: • Participate in our performances, activities and events, and make suggestions for future activities. • Share information about our performances, activities and events, on social media and elsewhere, to spread the work of The Freedom Theatre and cultural resistance to more people. • Join us as a volunteer in our after-school activities, events and community initiatives, reinforcing the spirit of volunteerism in our community. If you live outside Palestine, you can support us by: • Sharing information about The Freedom Theatre on social media and elsewhere • Joining one of our current Friends associations or starting a new one. • Applying for a volunteer position at The Freedom Theatre. • Endorsing the BDS movement. • Making a monthly or annual donation to our work.

www.thefreedomtheatre.org

The Freedom Theatre - Organisational overview - Annual Report 2017 - Summary of Activities 2018