Windows` Graduates doing theatre...

Experiencing Windows’ long term process as a teenager usually has a big influence, shaping the emotions, perceptions, and attitudes of our graduates. When we are more successful, we also have an impact on their behaviour - from their participation in socio-political activism to the choices they make regarding their studies and careers. But what happens when they meet again, a few years older and wiser, with more life expereince?

"Theatre can be political. An actor can be an activist; it only depends on the content."

Over the years, we have managed to bring graduates to participate in follow up programs as adults, but in 2018 for the first time, we were able to bring together a triangle group about two years after the end of the program. Since not all could join the project, those who could invited friends with similar experiences to be part of the next stage of the journey. As they already reached, through the Youth Media and Action Program, an unusual level of knowledge of present and historical events and the processes that led there, and they shared similar perceptions and attitudes, we wanted to see what can happen if they were given the opportunity to narrow the remaining gaps between them. This time, we offered them the opportunity to replace their journalism tools with theater, inviting a Palestinian and an Israeli theater directors to lead the program supported by Palestinian ‘48’ (citizen of Israel) and Israeli facilitators, and our most experienced translator.

During the first uni-national and bi-national preparation meetings, while they were still checking each other - some with curiosity, others with some suspicion - looking for changes that may have happened since they last met, doubts were raised regarding the ability of theater to be an activism tool. “We are not here to play games”, “we are here to change the way people think”, some said. Sharing with them examples from all over the world, we encouraged them to give it a try. Using improvisation exercises they touched again tough issues and challenging moments in their lives, finding a new way to express thoughts and feelings, leading to deeper discussions than those they had at a younger age. They were ready to spend two intensive weeks in Germany, surrounded by beautiful nature and a supportive team.

Transforming life moments to stories through improvisation
During the first week in Germany, all participants got to know each other better. They reflected a lot, created a historical timeline narrowing the gaps of knowledge by asking each other many questions, and doing some more research. In the second week, the safe space became even safer with more improvisation exercises enabling them to share deeper feelings and more mutually challenging ideas. They shared painful stories and touched, through improvisation, ways to struggle against occupation and oppression and what impact they could have.

Do the oppressed have a right to use violence against the violence imposed on them by the oppressor? Is it moral? Is it effective? What other ways do they have? There was a crisis in the group. They overcame it. They chose theater. The “theater of the oppressed”, a theatrical form developed by Augusto Boal, a Brazilian theatre director, writer and politician, originally used in radical popular education movements.

Ideas that had been discussed before were transformed into something that the young adults wanted to share with the public and concerns began to appear. One in particular was much discussed here: How would the audience react? To whom and in what context should they perform? The new actors were worried about whether the same stories could be shared with both sides. They kept asking: will they be at risk if they perform together? By the time they said goodbye on the way back home, they were highly motivated to begin their theater work.

We make plans and then life happens
The plan for the following months was to meet monthly for a weekend of rehearsals combined with process workshops. The rehearsals were scheduled in advance to fit the time tables of the team and participants but also to enable the 2 weeks in advance application for entry permits to Israel. But, as things happen in our region, this was not always possible. At one point, tensions in the West Bank led to the closing of the checkpoints near their town and they could not pass. Another time, a participants’ father was arrested. Naturally, she had to stay home with her family. Culturally, the other girl in the group could not travel alone with the guys. The rehearsal was cancelled, but the event turned into a story and, from an improvisation in the next rehearsal, it became a short play.

Finally, when the play was shown in Tel Aviv and in the West Bank in June 2019, the graduates saw their impact. After the theatre, the audience, sitting in a circle, discussed the harsh realities and possible hopes. Here we were shown what the play had triggered in the audience. One of them said: “I am pushed out of my comfort zone. I am a teacher and I need to find a way to talk with my students about this”. A Palestinian participant answered: “This is the change I came to make”.

But it also had an immense impact on the group as they felt a connection like never before after the play. To mark the end of the day and the program, the young actors and the team involved all went to dinner outside. Before we began, two participants from The West Bank went for a short walk and didn't return. A phone call came notifying us that they were arrested on the grounds that their permits were not valid. One was indeed taken to the police station to clarify the matter (with a local team member on his side the whole time). Within minutes, the Israelis in the group organized a lawyer on stand by and came to the police station to provide support. An investigator, who arrived after an hour, took 3 minutes to find out that everything was fine. Our guy was released and met the group who was waiting outside. There was no time for a closing session, but this was a bonding experience, showing the care and solidarity in the group. This same sense of solidarity encourages the group to continue this project.