El-Hakawati – a space enabling Palestinian artistic innovations and original cultural productions

Jerusalem24 – “Culture creates people’s humanity, so reaching more people is a necessity”, With that Amer Khalil, director of the only Palestinian Theater in east Jerusalem, began to tell the story of El-Hakawati.

Amer says that Culture in Palestine played a huge role in the conflict, and in developing the social and economic life of Palestinians. Adding that the Palestinian theater, in general, is a big movement in Palestine.

“Each play carries questions and messages. The theater is a place where you make people think and ask questions, a place where you involve them and they engage. A place that can change people’s lives”. Amer adds.

The el-Hakawati team writes their own plays, inspired by the Palestinian and Arab heritage, and civilization, which flowered in a region rooted in the world’s first cultures.

“The genuine cohesion between the National Theatre and its audience around Palestine, and the strong and honest will that empowered the workers of the theatre, whether artists, or artistic troops, have always been stronger than all of the hard times that Jerusalem went through, and still goes through until this day”, El-Hakawati states on its webpage.

Amer, actor, and director of El-Hakawati, confirms the theatre has enabled Palestinian artistic innovations and developed original cultural productions. This can be seen in the daily activities of the theatre, as it daily hosts either training for artistic production, or a show for artistic activity, a cultural seminar, a community meeting, or a show for a cinematic film, in addition to children’s activities and programs to compensate children for their basic lost rights, such as their right to learn, innovate, grow personal skills, and express inner feelings.

For more details follow the link to the full interview!

 
https://soundcloud.com/24fmpalestine/vibes-amer-khalil