Jad, a Palestinian born in America, decides to go to Palestine for the first time in his life. Wanting to know more about his people and identity, he finds out that reality is very different from what he has seen in the news.

Return to Palestine is directed by Micaela Miranda and devised together with an ensemble of graduated students of The Freedom Theatre School. It was created after extensive story-gathering through playback theatre with the communities engaged in The Freedom Theatre’s annual Freedom Ride. The play includes stories from Jenin refugee camp and city, Fasayel, Dheisheh refugee camp, 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.

Director: Micaela Miranda
Actors: Alaa Shehadeh / Amir Abu Al-Rob / Ihab Talahmeh / Motaz Malhees / Ranin Odeh / Samah Mahmoud
Musicians: Samer Abu Hantash / Nabil Al-Raee
Costumes: Normal in Black
Technicians: Adnan Naghnaghiye

Glod: Political Theatre as a Civil Right presented Freedom Theatre’s Return to Palestine livestreaming on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Monday 25 January at 1 p.m. EST

Performed in:

Devir Capa Festival in Portugal

Konya Theatre Festival in Turkey

International Festival of Liberal Theatre in Jordan

Palestinian Performing Arts Showcase

‘Best in show’ at the Palestinian National Theatre Festival for Lead Actor Alaa and Director Amir Zuabe