Extraordinary Artists: A theater team in Gaza that integrates people with disabilities

Amjad Ayman - Gaza

The Teatro Palestine team is on the stage of the holiest cultural theater in the east of Gaza City to train in theatrical performances that tell social and realistic stories about life in Palestine, but this group is not traditional. It includes members with disabilities, Previous experiences in theatrical performances on the issues that belong to their category.

Palestinian writer and director Issam Shaheen was created two months ago in an attempt by the Palestinian writer and director Issam Shaheen to become a specialized academy in the Palestinian theater to promote the culture of theater tickets, the status of people with disabilities in the Palestinian society and focus on Palestinian issues without interference from international organizations. Theater issues.

Talents of persons with disabilities
When Shaheen announced the recruitment of talent to form a new theater representation team, received many contacts, some of them were people with disabilities seeking to join the team, was his response that he is looking for reason and feeling, and this is enough for him, and indeed came 7 of them, trained for two months and today members Actors in acting with the team.

"There is no trust among the people in Gaza and the theater, because there is no support from the state to spread the culture of the theater. In all the countries of the world, governments support theater and drama. I want to limit the tradition of Egyptian or Syrian drama. With a Palestinian view of a whole Palestinian team, even those with disabilities who suffer from the suffering of the occupation in Gaza. "

Shaheen seeks to make plays during the coming period, telling the angles of Palestinian life from the Israeli occupation and social and political issues, especially the marginalized groups. The team includes 38 representatives, including 7 disabled people whose theater abilities were developed, including two mobility disabilities and 5 visual disabilities.

"We have received promises of domestic and external support separately without interfering with the content, because we are covering the needs with self-effort so far," Shahin said.

Depriving her of paying her work to the theater
Qusubogli, 32, studied library science and information management from the University College of Applied Sciences. She worked in a number of civil society organizations as activists in the projects and issues of persons with disabilities, but she did not differ from other people with disabilities who claim their rights in Palestinian society, the work.

The cause of disability in the kasabogli from birth as a result of the dislocation at the moment of birth, led to a partial paralysis of the upper hands, you can not lift them up, along with short stature.

She faced many difficulties in her life as a result of disability within her school and even in getting a job, so Nora found art on her way.

Since her childhood, Kasabogli has enjoyed acting, but found no support for it. It began in April 2016 when she participated in a play on the rights of persons with disabilities and their suffering with Basma Society for Culture and Arts, entitled "Solo Play".

"The first show was in front of 300 spectators. I was afraid of the beginning, but when I found the encouragement I merged into the community and ended up with warm applause," said Ahlam. "I made several presentations with a number of civil society organizations and some plays in different provinces.

I finally got a training opportunity
Abeer Harkali, 25, a public relations and media graduate, has a talent for acting and played role-playing roles during the International Day of Persons with Disabilities in December of each year and found a new breakthrough with the Teatro team.

"Many of the directors were impressed with my performance, but they asked me to embody the issue of people with disabilities only. I did not like this, and I would decide to leave the art scene because my situation was not accepted," she said.

Harkali wants to represent many roles to represent her case about the occupation, the separation wall and the prisoners and their cause as a disabled person. "The Syrian and Egyptian theater spoke about the Palestinian issue in an Arab character, and I want to tell more about my case with our Palestinian character."