Projects, Symposiums, Festivals

François Abu Salem Symposium

Defining Palestinian Contemporary Theatre today: issues, practices and challenges

Fonds d’Alembert 2015 - 27, 28, 29th Oct. 2015
Deadline for sending abstracts: 15/06/2015
Deadline for sending full papers: 30/09/2015

Working on Palestinian theatre is complex and it leaves a wide range of research opportunities open in an under researched file of study.

Studies suffer from a lack of archives and the documentation remains difficult in that field. Production of knowledge on the topic is built on the analysis of recent practices in the Arab world and on the Palestinian field.

Yet, history of the Palestinian theatrical experience is waiting to be written. Every theatrical activity is widely depending on specific material conditions. Within the Palestinian context, no regular artistic “seasons” or festivals exist to present the latest theatre productions and perform others. Moreover, the erection of the Separation Wall has isolated Jerusalem and in particular the National Palestinian Theatre/El-Hakawati, founded by François Abou Salem (1951-2011) in 1984, after the foundation of the troupe in 1977. Palestinian theatre makers questioned whether theatre is an efficient or necessary way to deal with global issues. The role of theatre practitioners in society represents a key question in the process of creation, just as other questions such as aesthetic or artistic issues. The Palestinian theatrical production thus follows/ sticks to the social and
political issues dealt with by contemporary Arab and international theatre.

Despite difficulties, Palestinian theatre is still paradoxically dynamic, open to experiences conducted internationally, in line with the issues of global theatre, which aims to educate and raise awareness among the communities.

The symposium will question writing, acting, performing, and representing/stage setting practices in the contemporary Palestinian theatre. This will provide a good opportunity for academics and theatre practitioners to question the past, the present and the future of the Palestinian theatre experience in the light of its specificities, challenges and status.

The symposium will also provide a meeting platform for artists, theatre practitioners and scholars, to reflect and discuss on the current situation of the Palestinian theatre. The symposium is interested in discussing the following themes pertaining the Palestinian theatre:

Theatrical studies

  • How theatrical studies help define Palestinian theatre and identify its special features/characteristics?
  • What is the specificity of the Palestinian theatre from the perspective of theatrical studies?
  • What should be the contribution of theatrical studies in order to develop Palestinian theatre?

The history
The history of the Palestinian theatre and the main phases of its evolution in the light of historical
events:
What are the main achievements of the Palestinian theatre in the last forty-five years? A special attention
could be devoted to François Abu Salem. His work requires further studies.

Relationship to Official institutions:

  • How to enhance the role of concerned Ministries so as to have them upgrade the question of Palestinian theatre from a marginal concern to a national priority?
  • Is there a role for official institutions and politics in the development of Palestinian theatre?
  • How to develop a culture of theatre in Palestine?
  • How to move towards a culture of theatre that promotes independence and gives the precedence to practitioners rather than consider it as a product of cultural consumerism?

Professionalization:

  • How to define quality and professional theatre?
  • Is there a professional Palestinian theatre?
  • How to make Palestinian theatre practitioners financially independent?
  • What is the professional status for theatre practitioners in Palestine?

Theatre and community or communities, theatre and the community engagement

  • Why does Palestinian theatre tour more internationally than locally?
  • What is the impact of Palestinian theatre on the community?
  • How much is Palestinian theatre accepted by and/or connected to the community?
  • How is theatre used as an act of resistance?
  • How is theatre used as a means for social change?
  • How is theatre used in conflict resolution?

Theatre in education

  • Why should we use theatre in education?
  • How to use theatre in the educational process?
  • Is there any benefit of using theatre in education?
  • What are the main challenges of using theatre in education?

Theatre for children and youth:

  • Is there a specialized theatre for children and youth? And why?
  • What sort of theatre for children?

This event is directed mostly at PhD students and scholars. It is also open for comparative approaches on other cases. The conference also aims to propose various approaches at the crossroads between art and science, research and action: it will give the opportunity to theatre artists and makers to present and compare their various practices.

On the margin of the symposium, a theatre festival “Francois Abou Salem Theatre Festival” will take place, featuring Local Palestinian theatre troupes invited to perform their production.

Organizing Committee:
Reem Talhami (Palestinian Theatre League), Imad Mitwalli (Palestinian Theatre League), Amer Khalil (the National Palestinian Theatre/El-Hakawati), Hala Ali Rashed (Bethlehem University), Abdelfattah Abusrour (Bethlehem University), Najla Nakhlé-Cerruti (Institut Français du Proche-Orient), Yves Corbel (Institut Français)

People interested in participating should send an Abstract of 300 words as well as a brief biographical note in English no later than the 15th of June 2015 to:
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The selected participants will receive a notification by the end of June.
The conference’s working languages will be French, English or Arabic.
Funds will be available for travel and communication.

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François Abu Salem Symposium