National Theatre Wales Community

GLOBAL THEATRICAL CALL TO ACTION: There is a Field

I was contacted by Jen Marlow from Seattle (filmmaker, writer, theatre director and human rights activist) some time ago: Would I like to add my name to a Global Call To Theatrical Action? Would I stage the play created to mark the anniversary of the Black October 2000, would I tell the story of , Aseel Asleh, a 17 yrs old boy, a Palestinian citizens of Israel and a leading participant in a peace program called Seeds of Peace? Will I tell of his death when he was shot point blank in the neck by Israeli police at a demostration outside his village?

My heart has always been slightly cracked since I started to barely understand the Palestinian Cry and the horror of the European responsibilty in the messy story of the Israel/Palestaine conflict. Jen, the writer knew him and his family well. 'There is a Field' is a play about Aseel's life & death. All words culled entirely from interviews with Nardeen, his sister and other family members, emails written between Aseel and friends from Seeds of Peace

Would I?... Isn't theatre about telling stories? Truths? The voice of the street and the voice of the private room? The 'society's soul's voice', once said a teacher. Isn't this what's all about really?

Yes, I will. It's going to be a play of voices! A choir of words!- I said- Of many voices!

Chapter Arts Center will too!, I told her later, on Tuesday14th December. I'll come on my way to visit Israel/Palestine - said Jen.

Now, would you?... Would we?... Why? Why not?

A bit of back history:
Sept. 2000 - Ariel Sharon, chair of the Israeli right-wing Likud party visited the Haram al-Sharif compound, site of the al-Aqsa Mosque in the Old City of Jerusalem. It was an incendiary political act in the wake of the failed Camp David summit. Protests begun in Jerusalem, soon spread to the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Over the course of that day and the days that followed, tens of Palestinian demostrators were killed or injured by Israeli security forces. The demostrations intensified, eventually labeled as the Second Intifada.

Black October 2000 - Palestinians inside Israel demostrated in large numbers in solidarity. Israel police used live ammunition against unarmed protestors: hundreds injured, 12 Palestinian citizens of Israel killed. Aseel was killed. No eyewitnesses, including the Israeli policeman at the scene, claimed that Aseel had been violent in anyway.

There is a Global Call To Theatrical Action, the phone is ringing...

(for more information or to get involved email: maria.morancho@ntlworld.com)

Attachments:

There is a Field at CHAPTER ARTS CENTRE. Poster.pdf, 203 KB

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Permalink Reply by carmen medway-stephens on November 17, 2010 at 5:21

HI Maria - we met in the Paines Plough event - this looks really exciting - you should have come to our piece friday as we've just done this - a choir of voices - we did 7 Jewish Children and 29 Women about the first 29 women selected to fight for the new Afghanistan Army. 1.618 does Humanitarian Plays. I am all for this - if people knew the true extent of what happened in Gaza they would be a public outcry. Tell us if you would like support. Carmen

Permalink Reply by Maria Morancho on November 17, 2010 at 8:01

I was discusing with Sheryl Checuti the posibility of her choir involvement and the plans I had to make a choral performance, she asked if I had seen the Jewish children at Chapter and how wonderful had been but she didn't mention it was a choir... now I understand! Never! Was she part of it too then? How wonderful! It reassures me enourmously, sometimes I was in doubt if a Choir of voices was the answer but is clear now is the way forward for such 'dramatic realities'. I would love for you to be involved! Sometimes as you know it feels like a mamouth task when a project does matters thsi much. You would love to meet Jen Marlow, too, the author (filmaker, writer, theatre director and human rights activist and worked for 4 years in conflict resolution with Palestinian and Israel teenagers. She's coming to the performance and hold a Q&A at the end. She's due to be in London that day in her way to Israel/Palestine.

Would like to meet? Discuss thoughts? So far Sheryl choir (they perform twice a week in town Tuesdays and Saturdays) has been approached and hope to hear soon if interested to be part of it. And actors/actreses are starting to show their interest to perform in the choir. I have contacted too UNA and WCIA at the Temple of Peace and the UK office for Seeds of Peace.
Would be great to meet. Trying to fix rehearsal venue at present, talking to The Gate tomorrow, any great suggestions? Are you free at all the next two days or early next week?
XXMM

Permalink Reply by carmen medway-stephens on November 17, 2010 at 8:27

When I say choir - I meant like a greek chorus and spoken word. Sounds fab will send a message direct to you now x

Permalink Reply by Maria Morancho on November 18, 2010 at 4:15

Yes, sort of same here but with (hopefully) the added presence of a real choir to give musical background and repetitions. Have you seen Ruth Kramer's work? well a mix of her work and Greek choir and real choir, maybe a bit ambitious for the time left to rehearse but as you know better reach for the stars and there could be a possibility of landing on the moon... xx

National Theatre Wales Community

GLOBAL THEATRICAL CALL TO ACTION: There is a Field

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