Presented with Culture+Conflict, Index on Censorship, and Article 19

An evening focusing on The Freedom Theatre, the extraordinarily inspirational and courageous cultural initiative based in the Jenin Refugee Camp on the West Bank. The Theatre provides opportunities and ambition for children growing up in a society struggling with increasing isolation, violence, fragmentation and disillusion. The artistic director Juliano Mer Khamis was assassinated in Jenin on 4 April 2011, but the theatre continues its work.

We are privileged to welcome film-maker Ahmad Alaraj from the Theatre, who will present Arna’s Children and a series of short films. He will be in conversation with the new director of the Free Word Centre, Rose Fenton, co-founder and co-director of the London International Festival of Theatre (LIFT).

The evening will be in two parts, with a single ticket, which is valid for both.

5.30 – 7.00: Arna's Children (2003, 84 min) directed by Juliano Mer Khamis and Danniel Danniel, a documentary about the children's theatre group established by Arna Mer-Khamis, Juliano’s mother, an Israeli Jewish political and human rights activist. This moving film, which won Best Documentary Feature at the 2004 Tribeca Film Festival, follows the lives of Arna and the members of the theatre.

7.30 – 9.00: Ahmad Alaraj of the Freedom Theatre will present and discuss four short films about the continuing work of the Theatre today with Rose Fenton: the challenges it faces working with young people in Jenin and the transformative effect it has on their lives. There will be an opportunity for questions and discussion with Ahmad.

Food and refreshments will be available.

Tickets: Valid for both parts of the evening- £5 / £3 (Concessions).