What are we going to do to support, amplify/ connect up artistic voices from and in Palestine, Sudan, DRC, Ukraine (and other places in conflict/ political crisis)
Rich, engaged dynamic discussion with a mobile group around 10 at all times. Intense engagement and discussion. Some of the things that emerged, not necessarily in order and probably with some repetition.
Several people came up either in the group or privately to say how complicated this session could be, how important it was that it was framed to include multiple instances of genocide and conflict, not only Palestine, how important it is to hold a space that can hold and welcome Jewish artists voices and the multiplicity of experience and position in the room.
Questions:
How can issues (of atrocity/ human rights abuses/ inequality) gain more traction
Question of compassion fatigue
Pushback of bringing up difficult issues
there is a silencing of stories and experiences: how can this be addressed
Problem of silencing: FEAR: boards of theatres are scared to be too political
Boards are scared on violating rules of funding/ charity commission
Boards are scared to lose sponsorship.
There is a lack of awareness of the positive impact that can happen when artists and organisations stand up against atrocity and inequality.
Can positive stories be amplified?
Often there is a conflict between professional position and personal political views. This is a reality.
Within this area a misunderstanding and lack of knowledge around distinction between state of Israel and Judaism, and around what anti Semitism is. Is there a tool kit for antisemitic awareness? Can this be developed and shared?
A lot of discussion around silencing and culture wars
Discussion around The Great White Saviour complex. The exhaustion often felt by Palestinians, Sudanese, Congolese etc in holding lives and worlds together without also telling stories and holding responsibility for this and having multiple identities.
Open Space can be helpful in creating space.
There was a lot of awareness and public traction around the atrocities of Sarajevo/ Bosnia and apartheid in South Africa. WHat is different now- where is the traction and how can it be built?
Question around Education: the lack of awareness of British responsibility for Palestine, lack of understanding about the Balfour agreement
Examples of work, good practice and connection:
Welcome to the Fringe: a four day festival of Palestinian work at Edinburgh Fringe 2025.
- supported by crowd funding- raised £42K to bring 22 Palestinian events to Edinburgh. Over 114 applications. Successful inclusion was to do with a mixed programme/ mixed voices, representation from Gaza, West Bank and Diaspora, Focus on the multiplicity of identity
Walking the Tightrope- Arcola and coming to EIF
Oranges and Stones: Ashtar Theatre/ Tamasha... importance of financial risk not being left to smaller theatres.
Lullabies for Liberation: a sharing of lullabies
Other things that came up:
Genocide Denial- in Palestine and Sudan and other countries. What is our responsibility to tell the stories and prevent denial?
Musicians seem to be freer and have a louder voice in shouting about oppression: can reach larger audiences more immediately? are freer from confines of funders?
Complexity of amplification and support: but daily support, listening and self education about issues can really help support and understand.
Recognise privilege: of safety, freedom, freedom of speech.
Engage your own communities and bring them along: Z talked about bringing along her Deaf community towards an awareness of the Palestinian context.
Don't Assume
Beware of Binaries
Find the Nuance
Celebrate the 3rd Space- or is this third space really the Theatre space?
Make work about complexity: of identity, of alignment, of politics.
Shelley gave example of Eating Icecream on Gaza Beach: a work by a London Jewish woman with Palestinians performed at Soho theatre that used to be a synagogue...
Why theatre:
- collective
-witness
- solidarity
- responsibility
-dialogue
- holding space
What can be done:
Spaces of sanctuary can be created. Open welcoming spaces without expectation to represent, produce or create.
Learn cultural touchstones! lovely examples of song collecting and community sharing. Examples like Family Sings Political in Birmingham where families get together to sing protest and resistance songs together across languages and cultures fostering connection and solidarity.
Humanisation! THis happens through
-creativity
- providing space
- providing welcome
STEALTH ACTIVISM: If you are facing resistance to talking openly about political things, employ STEALTH! Becci teaches beautiful highly technical songs that are also about protest and resistance. For more examples see popupchoirs.com. Becci is always looking for new repertoire!
Thanks for a rich and interesting session