This October, The Freedom Theatre will be offering a 12-day Playback Theatre intensive in the West Bank.
Applications are invited from cultural activists, community organizers and theatre practitioners from Palestine and abroad. To apply, please email ben@thefreedomtheatre.org.
Over 12 days, participants will learn and practice the core elements of Playback Theatre with emphasis upon its use within the Palestinian context.
The workshop will include training in movement, voice work and the Viewpoints method of acting and composition. In particular, participants will develop the skills and attributes needed for turning true stories into improvised enactments rich in artistry, attunement, and effective ensemble work.
Using case examples from Palestine and abroad, we will examine Playback Theatre’s ability to promote critical consciousness and sociopolitical change. We will also address the practice and ethics of working with trauma (and other responses to adversity).
Participants will live, train and perform in Jenin Refugee Camp and Aroub Refugee Camp in the West Bank of Occupied Palestine.
Applications are invited from cultural activists, community organizers and theatre practitioners from Occupied Palestine and abroad (see selection criteria below).
PLAYBACK THEATRE
Playback Theatre involves a collaborative process where audience members volunteer true stories from their own lives. Following each story, a team of actors and musicians instantly transform the teller’s account into a short, improvised enactment.
Playback Theatre was founded by Jonathan Fox and Jo Salas in 1975. It is now used in over 60 countries as a way to promote community building and collective trauma response. Numerous initiatives also use Playback to address poverty, caste, racial discrimination, violence against women, homophobia, militarism, environmental degradation, climate change and other issues.
DATES
15th – 28th October 2015.
ITINERARY
• 15 Oct: 5pm arrival in Jenin Refugee Camp
• 16-22 Oct: Workshop in Jenin
• 23 Oct: Travel to Aroub Refugee Camp
• 24-27 Oct: Workshop and performances in Aroub
• 28 Oct: Course ends at 9am.
LOCATION
Jenin Refugee Camp and Aroub Refugee Camp, occupied Palestine.
LANGUAGE
Language of instruction will be English. Translation into Arabic will be provided.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Prior experience with Playback Theatre is not required. However, priority will be given to applicants who hold at least 2 years of experience in the use of theatre or other arts-based methods for community building and/or sociopolitical change. Only those who can commit to attending the entire intensive will be considered. Minimum age is 18 years.
FACILITATOR BIO
Ben Rivers was born in the UK and raised in Australia. He specializes in the use of therapeutic and participatory theatre for community mobilization, cultural activism and collective trauma response. He has taught and practiced in Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East and North America, working extensively with communities impacted by structural oppression and political violence. He is a founding member of The Freedom Theatre’s Freedom Bus initiative (Jenin, Occupied Palestine) and a Co-founder of the Arab School of Playback Theatre (Cairo, Egypt). He holds a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology with a concentration in Drama Therapy from the California Institute of Integral Studies, USA and is currently a PhD Candidate at the University of New England, Australia. His articles have been published in professional journals around the world. He is a Registered Drama Therapist with the North American Drama Therapy Association. He is also an Accredited Playback Theatre Trainer through the Centre for Playback Theatre, New York. He is currently based in Cairo where he works as an educator, group psychotherapist and theatre practitioner.
ORGANIZERS
The Freedom Theatre (Jenin, Palestine) in partnership with the Arab School of Playback Theatre (Cairo, Egypt).
ACCREDITATION
This workshop is accredited through the Arab School of Playback Theatre, an affiliate school of the Centre for Playback Theatre (CPT), New York. Hours can be counted towards an internationally recognized Diploma in Playback Theatre. For more information on CPT’s Diploma track, please visit: @[NjQyMTgzOTU5MjA4MTA3Omh0
FEES
Palestinian Participants: 720 NIS.
Non-Palestinian Participants: 480 US Dollars.
Fees include 1 meal per day, shared accommodation, tuition costs and travel from Jenin to Aroub. Transport to Jenin is not included.
SCHOLARSHIPS
A limited number of scholarships are available for Palestinian applicants. To apply for a scholarship, or to contribute to the scholarship fund, please email Ben Rivers at ben@thefreedomtheatre.org.
APPLICATIONS
Places are limited to 16 participants. To apply, please email Ben Rivers at ben@thefreedomtheatre.org. You will be sent an application form that must be completed and returned by September 15th. Selections will be announced by September 30th.