THE REVOLUTION'S PROMISE
SCRIPTS & MONOLOGUES
The full script and individual testimonies below are in ENGLISH.
Translations of some of the material is available in:
FULL SCRIPT
THE REVOLUTION'S PROMISE
Over 15 artists tell their stories of cultural resistance and artistic censorship spanning as far back as 1948.
A mixture of monologues and scenes the script is roughly one hour in length.
Some of the texts are available below as monologues marked with *
Additional and more recent testimonies are also available below.
MONOLOGUES
ATTACKS ON THE FREEDOM THEATRE
ARNA MER KHAMIS
ON ARTS & EDUCATION IN JENIN REFUGEE CAMP
Born in 1929, to a Jewish settler family, Arna was a pro-Palestinian human rights activist and teacher. Alongside local Palestinian women in Jenin Refugee Camp, she founded Defence of Children and The Stone Theatre, teaching and giving art therapy. In 1993, she was awarded the Right Livelihood Award.
JULIANO MER KHAMIS
ON CULTURAL RESISTANCE BEFORE HE WAS MURDERED
Juliano Mer Khamis was Co-founder and Artistic Director of The Freedom Theatre, who was murdered on 4th April 2011. Taken from interviews whilst he was alive, this text speaks of the dream of The Freedom Theatre and the role of cultural resistance.
AHMED TOBASI
ATTACKS & IMPRISONMENTS AT THE FREEDOM THEATRE, 2023
Ahmed Tobasi, Artistic Director of The Freedom Theatre, speaks of the recent attacks on cultural venue and its team as part of a long history of Israeli targeting of the theatre.
RANIN ODEH
ON ATTACKS AT THE FREEDOM THEATRE & MURDER OF CHILD PARTICIPANTS, 2022 - 2024
Ranin Odeh, Child and Youth Co-ordinator at The Freedom Theatre, takes us through a year of attacks on the theatre. As three child participants are murder she continues to fight for the human and cultural rights of young people.
HALA SHETA
ON THE ARREST OF HER FATHER PRODUCER MUSTAFA SHETA 2023
Hala Sheta is a 14-year-old participant in The Freedom Theatre and daughter to Mustafa Sheta, the producer of the theatre. Here she details the day her father was taken in December 2023 and imprisoned until now by the Israeli army.
MONOLOGUES
ON ATTACKS ON ARTISTS ACROSS PALESTINE
MOHAMMED BAKRI
ON 20 YEARS OF COURT TRAILS FOR MAKING A DOCUMENTARY, 2002 - 2020
The story of what drove Mohammed Bakri to film the award-winning documentary 'Jenin Jenin' days after the Israeli invasion of Jenin Refugee Camp in 2002 and the continuous harassment from the Israeli government ever since.
SUHAIL KHOURY
ON BEING IMPRISONED & TORTURED, 1988
Musician and composer Suhail Khoury tells the story of being arrested, imprisoned and tortured by Isreal in 1988 during the 1st Intifada for creating music tapes.
MOHAMMAD AL AZZA
ON BEING SHOT IN THE HEAD AND SURVIVING, 2013
Born and living in Aida Refugee Camp, Mohammad Al Azza is a documentarian and photographer and directs the Arts & Media Unit of Lajee Center in Aida Refugee Camp. In 2013 he was targeted and shot in the head by Israeli soldiers, an attack he survived.
DAREEN TATOUR
ON BEING IMPRISONED FOR WRITING POETRY, 2015 - 2018
Dareen speaks of the occupation and the violence towards women and children that led her to write the poem 'Resist My People Resist Them' and her consequent arrest and imprisonment.
ALI ABU YASEEN
BOMBING OF AL-MISHAL CULTURAL CENTRE, 2018
Ali Abu Yaseen, an actor, writer, and director, tells the story of the day Al-Mishal Cultural Centre was specifically targeted and bombed in 2018.
RANIA ELIAS
ON ATTACKS ON YABOUS CULTURAL CENTRE, 1995 - 2021
Rania Elias tells on the challenges for Palestinians working in Jerusalem and the Israeli aggression towards Yabous and its staff, including her own detainment and interrogated.
MUHAMMAD ABU SAKHA
ON BEING IMPRISONED FOR CIRCUS, 2015
Muhammad Abu Sakha from the Palestinian Circus School speaks about being imprisoned in 2015 for two years.
On the 9 June 2023, Muhammad was once again taken by the Israeli army. On 10th July, the Israeli occupation military court ordered six months in administrative detention - imprisonment without charge or trial.
BAHAA ELDIN IBDAH
ON CENSORSHIP FOR PALESTINIAN LIVING IN 48, 2023
Bahaa is a young acting student from the 1948 Palestinian territories (also referred to as Israel). Here, he speaks about the current censorship Palestinians are facing as Israeli citizens and how The Freedom Theatre in Jenin Refugee provides a space to speak.
OMAR BARGHOUTI
ON BDS, CULTURAL BOYCOTT & THREATS TO HIS LIFE, 2005 - 2020
Omar Barghouti speaks about BDS, including the Cultural Boycott, and the consequences he as faced as the co-founder
COPYRIGHT: The Freedom Theatre and Artists On The Frontline own the copyright to the script and monologues of The Revolution’s Promise. The texts are available for public readings and performances for all who abide by our values and have received written confirmation (please email info@artistsonthefrontline.com). We ask that tickets to any events and readings are free for audiences or, if chargeable, the money goes towards the Artist Resistance Programme. If this is not possible, please get in touch with us, and we are happy to talk through what might work.