Stories hold power that cannot be stolen. Whether personal or communal, stories are an important part of every culture. It is how we recognise and connect as humans, it is how we document our history and culture. We find similarities and differences through storytelling and Art. Culture is something Palestine has to fight to express and preserve. Through decades of occupation, their culture has been appropriated, and with this genocide, their documented history and records are being wiped out.

Established in 2006 by Juliano Mer Khamis, a Palestinian Jewish Actor and Zakaria Zubeidi, a Palestinian Muslim who came up as a child through the Stone Theatre, founded by Juliano s mother, Arna. The Freedom Theatre in Jenin was a cultural centre in Palestine set up to bring Drama and Art to the young people of the refugee camp. Young people who saw little hope in their lives had the opportunity to experience a range of theatre styles, including movement, clowning, Boal, and playback, allowing each to express and tell their own stories. Since their formation, they have developed their own unique praxis, using theatre as a form of cultural resistance and using art as a powerful tool to build confidence and strength in the young people s development.

The Freedom Theatre has gone on to have its own Youth Theatre, Professional Acting school, Photography school, comedy club and many other outreach projects. Their venue and school were places where the community gathered to experience a variety of plays and events. The theatre has been destroyed by the Israeli Army, but the Freedom Theatre is still alive and its work continues.

The Freedom Theatre has toured worldwide, presenting productions such as The Siege and Return to Palestine. Many of the adult graduates of The Freedom Theatre are living in exile around the world.

The Freedom Theatre has always been under threat by the occupying forces, and now those forces have taken the building and are using it as a military base. The refugee camp has been totally destroyed. Yet the Freedom Theatre lives on in Jenin, with many plans for the future and the hope of returning to its home soon.

With Ireland's recognition of the state of Palestine bringing such great hope to its people, we, too, would like to stand in support and solidarity with our fellow creative community, providing dialogue, collaboration, and hope.

At Imbolc, in 2026, we will present Seachtain Saoirse don Phalaistín, a week of live events dedicated to Palestine’s Art and Artists in the Project Arts Centre. There will be music, poetry, comedy, discussion, workshops and an exploration of the links between Ireland and Palestine, including the play 'Return to Palestine'.

These events will only happen with your generous support.

Your contribution will cover production costs, including venue hire, artists' and production fees, accommodation and travel expenses, including VISA applications for Palestinian artists in exile. It will cover expenses for workshops, film screenings, talks, live music and theatre performances. To produce an event this size, we will need a lot of people involved, materials, marketing campaigns and so on.

When you support a project like this, you are part of history in the making.