Review of "Palestinian Theatre in the West Bank: Our Human Faces" by Gabriel Varghese (Palgrave MacMillan)
In 'Palestinian Theatre in the West Bank: Our Human Faces,' Varghese traces five Palestinian theatre companies—Al-Kasaba Theatre, Ashtar for Theatre Productions and Training, Al-Harah Theatre, The Freedom Theatre, and Al-Rowwad Cultural and Theatre Training Society—from the first intifada...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cultural Studies Association
2020-11-01
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| Series: | Lateral |
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| Online Access: | https://csalateral.org/reviews/palestinian-theatre-west-bank-varghese-hamzehee/ |
| Summary: | In 'Palestinian Theatre in the West Bank: Our Human Faces,' Varghese traces five Palestinian theatre companies—Al-Kasaba Theatre, Ashtar for Theatre Productions and Training, Al-Harah Theatre, The Freedom Theatre, and Al-Rowwad Cultural and Theatre Training Society—from the first intifada (1987–93), or uprising, to today, to show how abject counterpublics in the West Bank resist Zionist erasure narratives. In the book, Varghese weaves thick description of examples and performances with historical contextualization to draw readers into what motivates Palestinian theatre-makers. Varghese shows there is potential for resistance through the border anxiety developed in sites of colonial abjection. Ultimately, this text argues Palestinian theatres in the West Bank do more than just perform plays—they provide needed space where issues are exposed, communities gather, and marginalization is responded to with beautiful resistance. |
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| ISSN: | 2469-4053 2469-4053 |