Call for Donations: Freedom Theatre Jenin
September 1st, 2011
Due to the current events in Jenin, the Freedom Theatre was forced to hire a lawyer who will represent the members of the theatre during the investigations concerning the murder of Juliano Mer Khamis. Unfortunately, the Freedom Theatre is not able to allocate the money for the legal fees from its project funding and is asking all friends and supporters around the world to contribute to the legal costs.
Medico International supports the work of the Freedom Theatre solely by means of donations.
If you would like to support the Freedom Theatre, make your donation to
Spendenkonto 1800
Frankfurter Sparkasse
BLZ 500 502 01
The key word is: Israel/Palästina
For further information, please visit
www.medico.de/freedomtheatre
www.thefreedomtheatre.org
Juliano Mer Khamis: murdered in Jenin
April 5th, 2011Yesterday we received the shocking news of the murder of Juliano Mer Khamis. The Israeli-Palestinian theatre practitioner, actor and film director was shot in front of his Freedom Theatre in Jenin. The Freedom Theatre and the Schaubühne, as well as their two artistic directors Juliano Mer Khamis and Thomas Ostermeier were connected by a deep friendship.
Mer Khamis’ mother had founded the children and young people’s Freedom Theatre in the refugee camp of Jenin during the first Intifada. It was destroyed by the Israeli army in 2002. Juliano Mer Khamis continued her work in 2006 and created an exemplary theatre project. The Freedom Theatre has become a place of artistic expression for young Palestinians in the occupied areas. The Schaubühne supported Mer Khamis’ commitment: it showed a guest performance of the Freedom Theatre in October 2009 and will present Mer Khamis’ new production in the upcoming season.
»This pointless death shocks and saddens everyone who knew Juliano, his commitment and his fearlessness. My condolences go to his family and his colleagues at the Freedom Theatre. The Schaubühne will continue to try and collaborate with theatre practitioners in the occupied areas and to give dialogue in the form of culture a chance in this region«, says Thomas Ostermeier. »We received the news of his death while preparing a workshop; I had planned to work in Jenin with my »Hamlet«-ensemble and colleagues of the Freedom Theatre.«
In rememberance of Juliano Mer Khamis, the Schaubühne showed the documentary »Arna’s Children« about Mer Khamis’ mother and her work as founder of the Freedom Theatre on Friday, April 8th and Sunday, April 10th, 2011 following the performance of »Third Generation« (a production of Schaubühne and Habima National Theatre with Jewish, Palestinian Israeli and German actors).