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The Freedom Jatha – now touring India!

The Freedom Theatre's joint production with Jana Natya Manch, Hamesha Samida (Forever Steadfast) is the highlight of the Freedom Jatha project. The Freedom Jatha team is now in the midst of a tour that will be visiting eleven cities in India, performing over 30 times. The play is the outcome of the first theatrical collaboration between India and Palestine, and has already sparked many conversations about theatre, resistance and freedom.

The Freedom Jatha adventure began in October last year when The Freedom Theatre’s team arrived in India for an intensive, diverse program of workshops with some of India's foremost theatre practitioners, interactions with students, artists and activists, field visits and rehearsals. Since December 18 the team has been touring India, performing for diverse audiences.

In Jhandapur, Hamesha Samida was performed as part of the annual memorial of Jana Natya Manch co-founder Safdar Hashmi on January 1st. Hashmi was killed in 1989 while on stage with Jana Natya Manch. 27 years later, The Freedom Theatre was honoured to perform in Safdar Hashmi’s memory, together with his comrades from Jana Natya Manch.

In Mumbai, the Freedom Jatha team performed at four different locations, including one show for an audience of some 2500 people. Now the Freedom Jatha has moved on to Kerala and will also be visiting Hyderabad, Kolkata, Patna and Bengaluru. See full tour schedule.

The encounters thus far have been full of wonderful conversations, careful listening and many insightful questions. We at The Freedom Theatre and Jana Natya Manch are incredibly touched by the love, support and solidarity we have received everywhere. So many friends have worked so hard to make each stop on the tour so special for the Freedom Jatha team. To them and to everyone we have met so far, we are grateful beyond words!

“We Palestinians have a special relationship with India. People here know what it means to live under oppression, especially the older generation. We are fighting for freedom just like you did. We have learnt about Gandhi and his resistance. We have huge respect for him. I feel sad that the current Indian government is supporting Israel for economic considerations. But I know that it does not represent the Indian street.” - Faisal Abu Alheja, The Freedom Theatre, in The Hindu.

Read more about the Freedom Jatha
Follow the tour: #freedomjatha