Inspired by The Gaza Monologues
The truth is I only created a Facebook account to meet the kids from The Gaza Monologues. It was summer of 2014. I was in Ramallah to facilitate creativity workshops with the student theater makers of Ashtar Theatre. My dear friend Iman Aoun had invited me. It was a bloody incendiary summer. Also beautiful. Also an awakening. Al Jazeera contracted me to write a personal essay. Could I get quotes from the kids in Gaza? Gaza was being bombed then. As before, as before that, as now.
They are all on Facebook, said Iman. So I created a Facebook account. I wrote to them. Mahmoud answered. Ashraf answered. The rest of the story is in these 3 videos.
The monologue of Mahmud El Turk, Born 1994, Al Jalaa' Street
Mahmoud Al Turk in a performance of The Gaza Monologues, photo courtesy of Ashtar Theatre
The monologue of Ashraf Al Sossi, Born 1994, Al Wehda Street
Poems inspired by The Gaza Monologues. “Listen” first appeared in Sukoon magazine, Winter 2015 and “Mercury to Gaza” in Mizna, Issue 17.1. The excerpt read is from “I have to believe” which is here
ABOUT ASHTAR THEATRE
ASHTAR Theatre is a non-profit NGO, founded in 1991 in Jerusalem, with a scope of work that covers the West Bank and Gaza Strip. At ASHTAR we look at theatre as a tool to free our society, ignite awareness, create internal individual freedom, and invest in culture as a generator for social change and political liberation
MESSAGE FROM IMAN AOUN
Are you an expert in socio-drama, art therapy, or psychology?Contribute to shaping our children's programs and share your knowledge and time. Please, follow this link
Are you able to donate or suggest someone who can help fund our Psycho-Social Intervention?
Donate and share this link
For more details contact info@ashtar-theatre.org,
Sincerely,
ASHTAR Theatre Team
Iman Aoun
Artistic Director
ASHTAR Theatre
Ramallah - Palestine
