This Week in Palestine - Events
Issue no. 7  - April 1999

Events (1 Arpil - 15 April)

East Jerusalem
Bethlehem
  • Friday 02 April Opera: La Pietta at Terra Sancta school, st. Francis Hall. For more information contact the Bethlehem Municipality (02) 2741323
    • Ramallah
  • Saturday 03 April 20:00 Music: The Oriental Music Ensemble, Baladna Cultural Center, El Bireh
  • Wednesday 07 April 19:00 Film: Liar Liar, Popular Art Center
  • Thursday 08 April 15:30 Film: Lion King (for children), Popular Art Center
  • Thursday 08 April 19:00 Film: In love and war, Popular Art Center
  • Thursday 08 April 20:00 Music: Young Talents, at the Sakakini Cultural Center.
  • Saturday 10 April 19:00 Film: High and Low, Popular Art Center
  • Saturday 10 April 20:00 Play: Open Strike at the Sakakini Cultural Center
  • Sunday 11 April 15:30 Film: Dumbo (for children), Popular Art Center
  • Sunday 11 April 19:00 Film: Yol (The way), Popular Art Center
  • Monday 12 April 19:00 Film: Barton Fink, Popular Art Center
  • Tuesday 13 April 15:30 Film: Peter Rabbit (for children), Popular Art Center
  • Tuesday 13 April 19:00 Film: Modern Times, Popular Art Center
  • Wednesday 14 April 19:00 Film: Forrest Gump, Popular Art Center
  • Thursday 15 April 15:30 Film: Dumbo (for children), Popular Art Center
  • Thursday 15 April 19:00 Film: Liar Liar, Popular Art Center
  • Thursday 15 April 20:00 Film: "The Dress/The Game/The Discovery" at the Sakakini Cultural Center.
    • Gaza Strip
    Reviews of main events April 1 - 15
    Play: Open Strike
    This play is a satirical comic monodrama dealing with a socio political problem in the Palestinian daily life. The play has recently been written by the Palestinian writer Mohammad Ali Taha, and produced by Al-Midan Theatre in Haifa. Directed by: Makram Khoury. Acting: Salim Daw.
    Khalil Sakakini Cultural Center, Ramallah, 10 April at 20:00. 
    Films: The Dress/The Game/The Discovery
    These three short films of 6 min each made by expatriate film maker Nabil Al Shoumali deal with the issue of interaction between the individual and his surrounding. Actors: Lama Shomlai (The Dress), Amir Shomali (The Game), Abdul Karim Qawasme (The Discovery). 1993. Color. 16mm.
    Khalil Sakakini Cultural Center, Ramallah, 15 April at 20:00.
    Music: The Oriental Music Ensemble
    An ensemble of five professional musicians of the National Conservatory of Music will perform oriental music of the late 19th and 20th century on traditional Arabic instruments. The members of the Ensemble are Khalid Jubran on oud and Buzuq, Suhail Khoury on Nay and Clarinet, Ibrahim Attari on qanoun, Samer Totah on oud and Yousef Hbeish on percussion.
    Baladna Cultural Center, El Bireh, 03 April at 20:00.
    Opera: La Pieta
    In cooperation between the Orvieto municipality in Italy, the Bethlehem municipality will host the famous opera, La Pieta whose theme is the pains of the Virgin Mary following the death of Jesus Christ. More than 50 Italian musicians and artists including the Italian Rita Camaranno and the Afro-American Amy Stewart and the Italian actor Gigi Proeitti.
    Terra Sancta school, Bethlehem, 02 April.
    Deep Shit:
    A multimedia project by Sobhi Zobaidi.
    A multimedia installation derived from the artist's experience of living in a refugee camp. The "innocence" transformed into "shit" is depicted in a very personal and intimate presentation.
    "How can I speak when blood, smell and memory penetrate my every word? I want to tell my story, the story of a street boy, a refugee, a ghetto kid who's never belonged. What marked me? Who chose my body for this malicious battle? My voice in this story comes straight from within me; my senses take over. Sounds and images crowd around me, repeating themselves endlessly, as if to reaffirm their existence."
    Where do these experiences come from? Where do they take him? The artist explains:
    "A refugee camp, after all, is a transitional thing. In political discourse it is mentioned only in terms of its eventual disappearance. It seems almost pointless to adore, nurture, or invest in the place where you live when it is not your home. Because however long you live there, it will never be home."
    Gallery Anadiel, New gate, 25 March - 19 April.
    Courses:
    Debka (traditional Palestinian dance) classes for all ages. Popular Art Center, El Bireh.
    Ney (Oriental Flute) classes - basic level. Popular Art Center, El Bireh.
    For further information, contact (02) 2953891 or pac@palnet.com
    Play of the week - The Emigrant:
    Al Kasaba Theatre - Jerusalem
    Playwright: George Shehadeh (Lebanon)
    Script and adaptation (from French): George Ibrahim (Palestine)
    Director: Mohammad Khamees (Morocco)
    Assistant director: Areen Abedy
    Lighting: Philipp Andrieu
    Costumes: khulood khoury
    Production manager: Hanna Habash
    Set: Majed Zubeidi
    Music: Bishara al Khill
    Synopsis: The play talks about a palestinian village, Deir Az Zaytoun, and a Palestinian Emigrant who returns to his village after a long absence. He meets a taxi driver who takes him to the village at night and tells him it's his old village, to see the settlements and the changes that have taken place on the landscape. The Emigrant falls to the ground, to be found dead in the morning by the villagers. The Emigrant has a suitcase with a million dollars and a message saying that this is a legacy for his son. The village is wrought with questions and doubts and issues relating to family honour, until one of the women is killed. At the end, everyone finds out that the taxi driver intentionally drives his passengers to another village (not their original village).
    Showing: April 2, 3, and 4th at 7:30 at the Hakawati theatre.
    Ticket price: NIS 20.
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