yella masrah - yes theatre - issue 2

8/9/2019 Yella Masrah - yes theatre - issue 2

1/20

1


2/20

2

Ed

itorial

Heres the second issue of Yalla Masrah newsletter, coming out six months after the first issue

published at the start of this year. The first experience was successful and we received many posi-

tive comments, suggestions and criticisms after it. We know with all our hearts that these criticisms

were only out of our dear readers concern for us, so that the newsletter would come out in its new

format better, more beautiful and of a higher standard that the first issue, and more useful, so that it

can deliver the message that it was created for and reach out with the voice of Yes Theatre to the

biggest group of readers in our beloved homeland. We hope that you will provide us with your sug-gestions and materials that you would like to include in the next issue, including stories, thoughts,

various articles in all subjects, drawings, general information and others.

Yalla Masrah newsletter is from you and for you; it allows you to publish your creativity and con-

tributions to a large audience of people. The newsletter is distributed electronically to more than a

thousand e-mail addresses, and in printed form to a large number of organizations and centers in

all areas of Hebron city, so that the reader can become more familiar with the theatres activities and

the participants in its various programs, and be introduced to these programs and activities and the

opportunities for different segments to participate in them.

We welcome all your contributions, and we hope for continued communication between the theatre

and the citizen in order to raise the level of theatre and drama art in the city specifically and in the

homeland and the world generally.

Yalla MasrahStaff

Editor

Raed Shyoukhi

Preparation by

Ihab Zahda, Muhammed Titi and Sevtap Oezkutlu

Coordinator

Mohammad Issa

Photography

Fredo Bahd / Hammam Amro

Design and Printing

PIXEL Design (Shadi Abu Ajamieh)

02-2211012 / 0599-31525


3/20

3

Since 1968, WFD has strong ties with Palestine and is, since then until today, supporting a womens cooperative

and kindergarten between Kufer Name and Bilin.

In 2004, WFD decided to expand its work to other parts of the West Bank and to implement projects on bigger

scale, but for shorter periods. In the same year, WFD started the project Street Educators Program in the Old

City in Hebron, which focused on cultural work with youth between 14 and 18 years.

In 2006, the youth house House of Non-Violence was opened and until 2009, it offered a Safe Space for youth

between 18 and 25. In this center, youth could not only participate in arts-based activities and art therapy ses-

sions, but also organize activities autonomously for other youth.

We are proud, that since summer 2009, we have started cooperating with YES-Theatre, one out of only eleven

Palestinian theaters in the West Bank.

From the very beginning of our work in Hebron in 2004, we knew about the high quality and professionalism of

YES Theatres work. In our former projects, we especially benefited from the theatres experience in conducting

theatre workshops with children and youth.

In our new YES4Youth-project, we hope to increase the access of youth to theater through training semi-pro-

fessional multipliers as theater animators and trainers.

Until mid 2012, we hope to train around 45 youth, who will then apply their newly gained knowledge in their work

with children and in community institutions. The most outstanding trainees will be trained as future actors, and

will, in that way, contribute to community and cultural life in Hebron. A library that is specialized in drama and

theater will be opened to public soon.A personal word about Hebron:

In no other West Bank city have I encountered people more interested in new ideas and approaches. Hebronites

are mostly helpful, friendly, supportive and curious to meet people from outside.

Hebron has its special charm and I like the importance that is given to family life and hospitality.

I can say that after four years of working here, Hebron has really become a home to me.

I hope, that WFD will continue working here after the end of the current project phase in July 2012.

Uli Schieszl

WFD-Project Consultant

WFDandHebron


4/20

4

When I tasted injustice... I knew the meaning of justice. When I was enveloped by darkness... I knew the meaning of light. When I

suffered parting... I knew the pleasure of union. And when Jerusalem was taken away from me, I knew the meaning of being robbed

of justice, sun and union... My inspiration, the kiss of love on my lips, my creator, my killer, how beautiful life is between your hands,

how beautiful death is on your hands... I dont love you, I dont yearn for you, and my heart does not beat on the doors of your hands...

I, my precious, the crown of my head, every heartbeat of mine and every breath from my chest... I melt with adoration at the air that

comes from you and goes to you, I worship at the altar of your eyes... And I wither in love and passion for every letter of your name,

O lady of cities and countries. I melt with love, passion and yearning to be a grave witness in one of your corners perfumed with

the smell of kingdoms that have committed suicide on the trees and the walls. Your word I have spread, to you I have sung and to

you my tongue has tilled when I sang. To you is the letter, the drawing, the color and the name. J... e... r... u... s... a... l... e... m. Domes

guard it, its eyes roam slowly to the walls... Robins, homes and sparrows inhabit it... So, come, Armageddon, if Jerusalem is not

retuned, and may the world be damned...

Raed Shyoukhi

Artistic team member of Yes Theatre

J e r u s a l e m


5/20

5

Dear readers, here are the names of some areas and streets in Hebron city: Ein Sarah is the main street of the city, Bab El Zaouia

(the city centre). Ras El Jora (entrance to the city), El Jozat, Harat El Sheikh, Harat Abu Sneinah, Harat Jaber, Harat El Jaabari

(adjacent to the occupied Abrahams Sanctuary), Khallet Abu Majnooneh, Habayel El Riyah, El Salam street, Nimra, El Hawouz

El Awwal, El Hawouz El Thani, Wadi El Hiryeh, Harat El Qazazeen, El Shallala, El Mahawer, Jabal Johar, El Quarantina, Qubb El

Janeb, El Shohada street, Qayzoun, El Shoaba, Farsh El Hawa, El Jilda, Qarn El Thor, Wadi El Toffah El Qadeem, Wadi El Toffah

El Jadeed, Beir El Hummous, Dahiyat El Rama, Khallet Hadour, Khallet Batrakh, El Madares street, El Adl street, Al Haras (which

has a police station), El Fahs (the industrial area), Dahiyat El Zaytoun, Dahiyat Eskan El Baladiyyah, Souk El Laban, Eesah, San-

jar, Wadi El Joz, Nunqur, Jabal El Sharif, Jabal El Sundas, Bir El Mahjar, Wadi Abu Kteilah, Jabal El Juneidi, Tall El Romeidah (an

archeological site with a settlement), and the Jameah neighborhood (Hebron University).

Names of some markets in the city: Souq El Skafiyyah, Souq El Laban, Souq El Khodar El Markazi (Central Vegetable Market), SouqKhan Shaheen, Souq El Qazazeen, Souq Khozoq El Far, Souq El Sahla (at Abrahams Sanctuary), Souq El Zahed, Souq El Shallala

El Qadeem, Souq El Dahab, Souq El Shallala El Jadeed, Souq El Shohadaa.

Universities, colleges and institutions: Hebron University, Palestine Polytechnic University, Aroub Polytechnic College (Aroub), and

Al-Quds Open University.

Hospitals: Princess Alia Hospital (government hospital), Al Ahli Hospital (of the Society of the Patients Friends), Al Mizan special-

ized hospital, Mohammed Ali Mohtaseb Hospital, San Juan eye hospital, Shahira gynecological hospital and Zaatari gynecological

hospital (Halhoul), and the Red Crescent Hospital, in addition to many health clinics, about 37 in the province.

Most important societies: Red Crescent Society, Islamic Benevolent Society, Muslim Young Mens Society, Al Ihsan Society, He-

bron Ladies Society, the Deaf and Dumb Society and the Blind Society.

The old city: the old city lies adjacent to Abrahams Sanctuary, and is comprised of alleys, old houses and shops containing many

markets. On the 12th August 1996, a committee for the renovation of Hebron was formed by a presidential decision from the late

president Yasser Arafat. The committee renovated the old residential buildings and shops and did a second renovation of the old

citys infrastructure.

Know more about Hebron


6/20

6

Wisdom of the Day

The duck was speaking to the bull and said: I wish I could reach

the top of this rock.

Why not? The bull answered. I can put some excrement for

you to help you climb. And so it was. On the first day, the bull

poured his excrement next to the rock, so the duck made it a

third of the way up. On the second day, the bull put his excre-

ment in the same place, so the duck made it two-thirds of the

way up the rock. On the third day, the pile of excrement reached

the top of the rock The duck hastily made its way up, and as

soon as it put its foot on top of the rock, a hunter saw it and shot

it.

Moral of the story

Bullshit can take you up but it wont keep you there for long.

OurNews

Here are the most important activities that Yes Theatre conducted in the first half of this year:

At the start of 2010, Yes Theatre started preparing for the new theatre production: Play 4 Kids, the result of which

was the play: The Same Problem, with 44 performances to the public audience and students from forty schools

among those of the Ministry of Education and UNRWA. The play presents the problem of garbage and the suf-

fering faced by society in dealing with this problem, as well as other social problems that it leads to. The play is

written and directed by Ihab Zahda and acted by Raed Shyoukhi, Muhammad Titi and Osama Jabri, with technical

specialist Hammam Amro.

Yes Theatre, in cooperation with the World Peace Service, completed the first part of the training program Yes

4 Youth, aimed at professionals and new graduates interested in working directly with children, and which took

place from the start of March till the end of June 2010. 16 participants, male and female, completed the training and

will receive, at the end of the program, certificates from Yes Theatre and the WFD for about 190 training hours dur-ing it, including exercises in theatre games, basics of theatre acting, storytelling, voice and breathing, body and

planning, in addition to two workshops in first aid and childrens rights. A number of participants complete practi-

cal workshops with children for two months, to enhance their practical abilities for training. The graduates are:

Bushra Al Atrash, Bushra Abu Saymeh, Manar Al Balasi, Hala Al Darabee, Moaz Mureb, Shawkat Al Tarda, Fikrat

Khallaf, Hekmat Al Qawasmi, Naseem Kashour, Arwa Eghbeirat, Diana Al Sweiti, Alaa Al Sweiti, Abeer Al Am-

mour, Doa Al Anati, Nour Esefan and Siddiqa Al Fatafta.

These days, Yes Theatre started executing three programs of Kids 4 kids in which approximately 50 students

were chosen from several schools and institutions to participate. The program aims to enhance students personal

skills at all levels, and ends with three plays performed by the participants during tours to students from other

schools at the start of the new school year 2010 2011.

Within the international exchange between Yes Theatre and European universities and institutions, the colleague

Raed Shyoukhi represented Yes Theatre in Sweden, where he visited, together with a large delegation of all Pal-

estinian theatres, the Drama Academy in Stockholm, the Ballet Institution, the Swedish Circus School, Gothenburg


7/20

7

University and a number of Swedish theatres. The delegation exchanged skills with the officials there and engaged in numer-

ous discussions around the role of drama in social change, the methods of theatre work and their similarities and differences

in Sweden and Palestine. They also saw a number of different theatre performances.

Colleague Raed Shyoukhi also participated in the French Odessa Martigue Festival of storytelling in the Mediterranean coun-

tries, representing Palestine in the festival.

Amongst the events of the Palestine Festival of Literature, Yes Theatre participated in a number of activities including theatri-

cal readings and others at the theatres premises in Hebron.

Yes Theatre hosted the theatre performance: From Jerusalem with Love... Naji by the Hakawati/National Theatre.

The theatre hosted, on the 16th and 17th May 2010, the activities of the School Festival of Drama organized by the Department

of Education, in which 11 theatre sketches where performed for children, with educational and social contents, by teachers

from 11 schools and seen by a large number of parents. Hiyam El Talbeeshi supervised the training, and Mr. Diab El Haymouni,

the Director of the Activities Section in the Department of Education, oversaw the execution.

Colleagues Muhammad Titi and Ihab Zahda participated in performing the play 603 with Hayat Theatre in the United Arab

Emirates, where two performances were presented in Sharjah and Abu Dhabi.

Yes Theatre is currently working on preparing the first and largest specialized drama library in the south region of the West

Bank. The library will contain more than 6000 books in the fields of theatre, drama, story and novel including studies, texts,

analysis and references from many Arab and foreign countries and in both languages.

Members of the Board of Directors of the World Peace Service (WFD) visited Yes Theatre and watched a performance of the

play: The Same Problem, in addition to being introduced to the theatres activities and listening to a detailed presentation on

Yes Theatres various programs. The members expressed their interest in Yes Theatres work in an area such as Hebron due

to its uniqueness, and at the end of their visit, they toured the old city and visited Abrahams Sanctuary.

Within the international exchange and after the visit of colleague Raed Shyoukhi to a number of theatres and universities

interested in the field of drama in Sweden, a number of artists, trainers, directors and writers from these theatres visited Yes

Theatre several times over three months, during which they saw the activities and programs of the theatre and discussed,with its management and artistic team, means of future cooperation between the two parties. An initial agreement was made

to bring several of them to train participants in the Yes 4 Youth program in a number of subjects that will benefit them and

increase their expertise in dealing with children and using drama in education.


8/20

8

** Mr. Diab Haymouni, as you saw the beginnings of Yes Theatre and the path of its artistic team since thetheatres formation in 1997, what can you say about the rich path of this team and this new theatre: Yes Theatre?

-- Yes Theatres artistic team was able, since the early days after the theatres launch in 1997 with Theatre Day Productions and

until the end of 2007, to work using a clear, long-term plan to spread the culture of theatre, and Hebron was a thirsty ground for this

activity. Perhaps the absence of a theatre building had an effect, but the perseverance of the theatres team did not make the lack

of premises an obstacle.

When we speak of theatre, we clearly mean the artists Muhammad Titi, Ihab Zahda and Raed Shyoukhi, and when we speak of the-

atre organizations we mean Yes Theatre, which despite its short life has become the most unique organization in the south region

of the West Bank, and its name has become one of the landmarks of Hebron province.

** What are the student activities provided by the Department of Education in Hebron, and what is your opinion

on the programs and activities including theatre performances, drama workshops and others provided by Yes

Theatre with constant and complete cooperation with the Ministry and the Department of Education, and how

important are these activities to you?

-- Education, since the Palestinian Authority took over, changed from a desert to an oasis regarding activities. Before the Authority,

there was not what you could call student activities. On the other hand, student activities are everything that you can imagine the

student producing in various areas: artistic, cultural, sports, social, musical and so on.

For me personally, and due to my connection with the theatre since my school and university days, I used to give this activity prior-ity since I first took over the responsibility of Director of the Activities Section. I was happy when the first theatre organization was

formed through Theatre Day Productions that worked in Hebron from the start of 1997 until 2007, during which time there was

coordination with the Ministry of Education to open the doors to all the organizations activities, ranging from performances for

students (which are free of charge), drama workshops for school students, storytelling workshops for teachers, to animation and

others. Tens of thousands of students, teachers and audience members benefitted from the theatre teams activities.

I would like to stress that the activities and programs of Yes Theatre are fundamental programs for student activities and for teach-

ers, since all studies have indicated the teachers need for drama in order to do their job as teachers. We in the Ministry of Educa-

tion are very happy for the existence of Yes Theatre, as other provinces do not have similar organizations.

Nothing is more indicative of the value of this organization than the Ministry of Educations participation, with a student delegation

from Hebron, in the European student theatre in Greece last month, which points to the level of maturity and the scale of skills now

available in Hebron.

I can almost say that theatre in Hebron has become one of the accompanying features of culture, activity, creativity All my regards

and appreciation go to my colleagues in Yes Theatre: technicians, artists and administrators.

** A word for Yes Theatres team on the one hand, and to teachers and students regarding Yes Theatres activi-

ties on the other?

-- There will never be a final word which we say to Yes Theatre; there will always be words that we continuously address to it. We

tell them that they have carved the rocks, and your oasis has grown. Continue, we want a lot from you, we want a theatre aimed

at the child, a theatre for the child We want training for all teachers in the area of utilizing drama in educational work, we want

regular theatre performances, and we want to see the girl take her place in contributing to the organizational theatre performances.

I want to see a theatre in every school, and a teacher able in drama, I want to see theatres for children in every neighborhood,

because the theatre is the ideal means to dialogue, freedom and creativity.

** Mr. Diab Haymouni, thank you very much for offering us some of your precious time.

-- You are welcome, and God bless your wonderful efforts.

Character of the Day

In this issue, we hosted Mr. Diab Haymouni, Director of the Student ActivitiesSection in the Department of Education in Hebron, due to our knowledge of the extent of Mr.

Haymounis interest in extra-curricular activities in the Department of Education specifi-

cally and at the institutional level generally, and his belief in the role of theatre and drama

in opening the horizons of knowledge, broadening the awareness of our dear students and

changing their beliefs towards the better.


9/20

9

Fifty Ideas to Plant Confidence in Your Child

Confidence is not something easy that comes overnight, and an insecure person needs a big effort for us to be able to return his

confidence to him. For this reason, parents must work on planting confidence in their children from their early youth, so that they

develop a strong, self-confident personality. Here are fifty easily applicable ideas to raise confidence in children:

Praise the child in front of others.1.

Do not make your child self-criticize.2.

Say Please and Thank you to him.3.

Treat him as a child and let him live his childhood.4.

Help him to make decisions by himself.5.

Teach him to swim.6.

Make him the guest of honor in an event.7.

Ask him for his opinion and take his advice on some things.8.

Teach him how to read and follow directions.9.

Teach him first aid.10.

Answer all his questions.11.

Keep your promises to him.12.

Teach him how to work in a team or group.13.

Encourage him to ask questions.14.

Make him feel important among his friends.15.

Tell him the reasons for any decisions you make.16.

Be with him on the first day of school.17.

Tell him stories from your childhood.18.

Teach him how he can be found if lost.19.

Teach him to refuse and say No to wrongdoing.20.

Teach him to give.21.

Give him enough money that he needs.22.

Encourage him to study and do not force him.23.

Teach him to protect himself and his body.24.

Never threaten him.25.

Give him advance warnings.26.

Teach him how to face failure.27.

Teach him how to invest his money.28.

Teach him how to fix and organize his things.29.

Teach him good values and principles.30.

Teach him how to take responsibility for his actions.31.

Praise his work and achievements and teach him to write32.

them.

Teach him how to behave with pets.33.

Apologize to him for any clear mistake that you make.34.

Give him a day full of surprises.35.

Get him used to reading the Quran daily.36.

Tell him you love him, and hug him.37.

Teach him the power of blessing and the importance of38.

prayer.

Make him play the role of teacher with you as the student.39.

Share his dreams and aspirations and encourage him to40.

wish.

Make a corner in the house for his work and write his name41.

on his achievements.

Help him to make friends; children these days do not know42.

how to choose their friends.

Make him feel his importance and standing and that he has43.

God-given abilities.

Teach him to pray with you and plant in him the principles44.

of the belief in God.

Teach him the skills of giving an opinion, presenting and45.

how to speak and present what he has to people.

Teach him how to set principles and duties for himself and46.

how to follow them, execute them and behold them.

Teach him simple cooking skills like boiling eggs, frying47.

potatoes, heating bread and so on.

Explain and clarify to him the suspicions and unclear is-48.

sues that he asks about.

Try something new for you and for him at the same time,49.

while knowing results in advance.

Teach him about gender differences between male and fe-50.

male, using inspiration from the Holy Quran.

Chosen by: Mohammad Issa

Administrative Manager of Yes Theatre


10/20

10

Absurdity

Absurdity is an intellectual literary school claiming that mankind is lost, with no further meaning for his behavior in contemporary

life, and no further context for his thoughts. Rather, he regurgitates his thoughts because he has lost the ability to see things in their

normal dimension due to the desire for control of life by the machine, so it can serve the person, but this became twisted so that

the person serves the machine. People became cogs in this big social machine. The school of absurdity came as a mirror, through

theatre works and poetic novel, to reflect and enlarge what people suffer from in the second half of the twentieth century, such that

they may succeed in dispelling this disarray from their lives, thereby creating understanding and harmony for events.

Founding and most important players:

The school of absurdity originated in European literature and moved to contemporary worldwide literature generally, and to

the countries that suffered from the First World War specifically. These countries had lost their trust in only the logical, mental

approach that could destroy all civilization built by humanity in an instance, when governed by the desire for control and de-

struction, as Hitler did in the Second World War.

Of the most important French players in the absurdity school:

Samuel Beckett, born 1906, the pioneer of the absurdity school, and a writer in all literary genres, receiving a Nobel prize in

1969.

Eugene Ionesco, born 1912, a French writer considered as one of the pillars of the theatre of the impossible.

Intellectual and ideological roots:

The French school of surrealism is considered to be the foundation of the absurdity principle, due to its content of subconscious

thought and hallucination of the world of dreams, filled with worries, pain and hopes. The school of symbolism is also considered

as one of the roots of the absurdity principle in what it contains of disturbed, unclear images combining beauty, ugliness, myth and

reality. In addition, Freuds psychological opinions, with their suggestions and dreams due to his psychological analysis of mentally

ill patients, are also some of the intellectual roots of the absurdity principle.

Geographical locations:The absurdity principle began

in France then spread to Eu-

rope and the western world.

It is clear from what has

been said: That absurdity is

an intellectual literary school

that does not tie itself to many

of humanitys principles, and

does not see any real context

behind human behavior which

disintegrated in western soci-

eties. This school was affect-

ed by Freuds opinions in ana-

lytical psychology and what it

contains in dreams, delusions

and imagination, and it sees

the necessity of following the

method of obscurity and rid-

dles in expression, so that critics do not understand the results of this school whose thought is based on the fear of the universe

and intimidation by it a fear that eliminates any rational thought. With all that has been said, it attributes the loss of the personin the West to soul emptiness, but it does not commit itself to any religious principles in advance, thus it is important to look at

its intellectual results with caution and interest.


11/20

11

For kids only

Do you know?

That the speed of light is 300,000 kilometers per hour?1.

That the three primary colors are red, yellow and blue?2.

That the Arabic name for the state of Hungary is Majar?3.

Jokes

A guy was running behind a thief and he overtook him!

A guy was tired of walking so he started to run.

A bald guy had a kid, so he named him: Hairy.

Riddles

What does the farmer do after he puts his right foot in his ground?1.

What looks like half the moon?2.

Who wishes to be one-eyed?3.

(Answers are upside down at the bottom of the page)

1)Putshisleftfoot.2)Itsotherhalf.3)Theblindperson.

Abeer Karaki - 12 years old Ashjan Abu Hammad - 13 years old

Ayat Abu Hawwash - 5 years old -

Alhuda school

jehad Hantash - 4 years old - Alhuda

school

Doaa Abu Malash - 20 years old -

Yatta town

Sajeda Abu Hammad - 12 years oldSereen Atawnah - 12 years old - Beit Kahel village


12/20

12

Words

Sirine Al Atawna, 11 years,

Nassar Al Asafra Second-

ary School Beit Kahel

I want to talk about the children who went through sadness and many moments Moments of silence

Moments of sadness Moments of happiness Moments of hope Moments of pain Moments of re-

gret Moments of safety Moments of fear Moments of despair Moments of tears Moments of

quiet Moments of anger Childrens moments are mine, I am like all children, I am Sirine Mohammed

Salama Atawna When children stray from their mothers they cry When children are tired they cry

When children sleep outside their houses they cry When children are happy they also cry When the

homeland is taken from them they cry When children are sad they cry When children stay alone

they cry Only when children die, they dont cry So who will the children cry to?... The children are

always crying, always shedding tears The children of Palestine are sad like me.

This IssuesCompetition

This competition will be a fixed feature of Yalla Masrah. In it, we pose a question to our dear read-

ers between 8 16 years old. Responses should be sent to Yes Theatres e-mail address: info@

yestheatre.org. Three prizes, 100 shekels each, will be given to the winners. The winners and the

correct answer will be announced in the next issue.

Solution for the riddle of the first issue: We will number the bags from one to ten. We take one ball from

the first bag, two balls from the second bag, three from the third, and so on until the tenth bag. We add

1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9+10 = 55 grams. We then put the balls on the scale, if they weigh 56 grams, then the bag with

the balls weighing 2 grams is the first bag. If they weigh 57 grams, its the second bag, and so on.

The winners of the first issues competition for three prizes, each 100 shekels, are:

Yazan Zeiniddine Al Qasrawi 15 years (Imam Ali Basic School for Boys)

Laith Munqeth Abu El Filat 15 years (Sheikh Mohammed Ali El Jaabari Basic School for Boys)

Alaa Ahmad El Zgheir 15 years (Our Lady Sarah Basic School for Girls)

Our question for this issue is:

A man fell from the window of his house on the tenth floor and died. The investigators were unsure as

to whether he had committed suicide or someone had thrown him from the window, so they enlisted

the best investigator they had. He approached the window that the victim fell from, opened it, lit a

cigarette, threw the matchstick from the window and immediately said: This man did not commit

suicide; someone threw him from the window. How did he know this?


13/20

13

Many times, we had feelings of despair leading us to a closed road, in which it became clear to us that there

was no point in what we were doing. At other times, feelings of joy and hope came over us to the point where

we felt that we held the keys of happiness, the keys of changing the world. Between despair and frustration,

hope and optimism, the goal remained and remains clear in the eyes of those children. We may be planting

a seed of wheat in them that we dont sow, but in whose fields the children will play in future. I did not see

my experience in Yes Theatre as merely a theatrical one; it was a new experience of life during certain

hours on a certain day in a certain place, which permitted us, through its formation in our minds, to bypass

it further than we imagined. Here I thank all who helped to teach me every letter, and I consider everyone inYes Theatre a complete whole, thus I will not partition it, but will thank them all in the spirit of the collective

that I saw from them, for this wonderful opportunity.

Manar Al Balasi

Participant in Yes 4 Youth program

Yes indeed Yes to self-development Yes to learning new things...

Yes to increasing our skills Yes to raising our abilities Yes to learning from others so we can teach oth-

ers Yes to every person that tries to raise others abilities and give them new skills Yes to Yes Theatre

Yes

Hekmat Al Qawasmi


From school to university At home and in the street At work and with friends At the time of smiles and that

of tears, the theatre was my rescuer the theatre was my friend, my guide, my counselor, for everything that is

theatre I accept without limitations or conditions... It was a long time yes before I received something scien-

tific that does not depend only on talent in the theatre. I met Yes Theatre, and for me it was the opportunity

that comes only once in a lifetime, yes it was a chance like no other, Yes Theatre occupied a large part of

my life For during my stay in it I took on the principle: Always say Yes no matter how hard circumstances

are When I lived under the pressure of my university exams that did not end, one thing made it easier

for me: Tomorrow you have a course at Yes Theatre. And so it was in the problems of my everyday life I

would be patient and say: Theres Yes Theatre. My problem was in my huge waiting for the day that I would

go to Yes Theatre to run away from lifes mess and its problems Thank you Yes Theatre.

Moaz Mereb


In the beginning I did not feel very excited to join the program organized by Yes Theatre, but I slowly found

that it is not just a training program It was a lot more than that It was a place where I found people to

advise and help me Between games and laughter, sadness and pressure, fatigue and rest, anticipation

YesThea

treandI


14/20

14

YesThea

treandIand creativity All of it became clear for me to find out later that I had not joined a traditional program, but a

place that started teaching me a lot, such as the love of responsibility and humility and the brotherly rela-

tion with the other participants without exception Thank you Yes Theatre...

Shawkat Al Tardeh


It was an intimate meeting even though they didnt know each other. Yet they met each other and formed a

strong, united family. They feared for each other and loved each other, treated each other with all respectand appreciation. They laughed played worked partied created had fun were scared were empty, yet their

unity, strength and brotherhood refused not to erase the parting. They decided to meet so all the family

gathered in one house The house of Yes Theatre It is them The group of Yes 4 Youth, pioneers despite

all obstacles, they are the family, the strong, the volunteers. My brothers and sisters, children of the Yes 4

Youth program, the parting is hard and the expression harder, it is you who determine the time to meet, for

the meeting and communication is in your hands I will not forget you

Seddeqa Al Fataftah


The story began about three months ago. Its heroes are wonderful people and I am one of the heroes of this

story. The beginning was in an advertisement I read about a training program in Yes Theatre... Ill be honest

with you I thought at the beginning that its just a normal course, but when I found out that it is for teach-

ers, workers and fresh graduates working with children, I decided to join it because I believe that the idea or

information which is taught to children using drama, remains in their memory and gets used in their scientific

and professional life. Giving a lesson in Arabic grammar using the means of drama will make it stick in the

students memory forever.

Bushra Al Atrash


When I saw them in the place and lived the state of waiting with them I collected all what I imagined and all

my impressions and wrapped them in words to share with them and tell them: You have creativity. Sponta-

neous, studied creativity. Thats why I did not hesitate in trying to find something new and different through

a training program focused on the child and titled: Yes 4 Youth And how the stage has a role in sculpting

our thoughts which will reflect our behavior with people in their different ages, especially the child There is

movement, sound, drama and speech through three people that are writing a letter in their own way, they are

Ihab, Muhammad and Raed from a place called Yes Theatre, from the stage of love and hope Thank you for

every moment in which you have taught me what I love.

Doa Anati



15/20

15

Its the place that holds our thoughts and feelings when we get to it. We mold together in body and spirit, we become differ-

ent people, and we live times in which we learn the methods and art of dealing with children through study. We elevate our

thoughts, feelings and ways of our dealing...

Nour Esefan


I came to Yes Theatre to change the routine of my life, but never imagined that there would be any real change in my personal-ity From the first day I entered Yes Theatre and joined the training program: Yes 4 Youth, the change began in my life and

personality, a real change. I started waiting for the days of the workshop impatiently, not because I have nothing to do on the

contrary, my time is full because I study and work at the same time. But in Yes Theatre I found myself and I found what I am

looking for, far from my job and my studies A place in which I psychologically rest, express what goes through my mind and

do what I like doing with the help of an exceptional group of trainers.

Diana Al Sweiti


A place in which I was surprised to find myself during the first moments, but I adapted to it, integrated in it, liked my presence

between its leaders and pioneers I respect it and I respect myself because I am there. It is not a new experience for me, but

it is a wonderful experience that pushes me to finish what I started I like my work with children and I need experience and

better methods to deal with them in an ideal way. Drama, educational games, storytelling and acting have all added a lot to me

in this field New tools, beautiful methods that I have gained from the implementers of the program, the team of Yes Theatre.

Many thanks to them and to all who help in raising the level of this theatre, developing it and growing it

Bushra Abu Saymeh



16/20

16

O, Black OneThought by Muhammad Titi, Artistic Team Member,

Yes Theatre

I never imagined that there would be a fate to take me out of

my worry, my silence, my isolation and deprivation My child-

hood of despair My dreams that were not My loss of my

mother and myself except you, O Black One.

I did not imagine that I would be provoked by you, because I

thought that what is inside me is stronger than anyone provok-

ing it. How did you do it? Your madness pulled me to you, the

black of your timeless night, the night you have worn since

your birth That black did not leave me; it stayed with me for

long years I wore it like you It surrounded me like it sur-

rounded you It stayed with me like it stayed with you Its

strange, I am in love with that black its colour its silence

its timelessness. I though, had what I had, I had something

else that was different because you taught me how to love my

black, I loved it because you love it Not because I am being

nice to you, O beautiful one, but because it befits you, but I

was pulled to you through my soul This is how you were and

you will remain

LifeThought by Noura Salah, Participant in School Theatre Festival 2008

I received life with the hand of a small child, I covered myself in its sky

and lay on its ground. I lit my night with the stars and walked in its day

that alternates between cold and heat. I drank water, tears and sweat, till

I was satisfied, but I grew in thirst for rest and safety. I walk in search of

warmth hidden between the rocks, or carved into a tree trunk forgotten for

years, growing in fertile land watered by streams and springs flowing of

pure, sweet water like the virginal kisses of lovers.

I try to search for a hand to touch mine, to understand its needs from time

to time, because from my first steps I did not find what could renew life for

me. Its day and night, summer and autumn all walk in the same rhythm,

nothing stops their usual routine or changes their known path. Life for me

became a forgotten song that generations were bored of repeating. On

the fringe of its path are remains of memories, pain and scattered sand,

carried by wind from distant shores. Its fertile ground became a dry des-

ert, on whose grounds grew thorns of betrayal, and snakes of poison and

envy crawled between its colored stones. The thorns grew and flourished

under despair and deprivation. I turn my face left and right, I search for it

in the mirrors, after it became tainted and formed by the changes of time,

for life has taken for me a decision to leave innocence, so it made me into

a young woman, erased the childlike features of my body, and changed

me into a woman. When was I a child? And why did I become a woman?

Two lines that mix in my skull; I try to separate my memory to search for

myself, which of them was I, the child or the woman?

I did not choose my name? Or my shape or my gender? Or how I was

supposed to sit in my mothers womb? I was programmed since I was

in it female!! I know, nature does not change its skin, and we have no

hand in the course of life, it is determined by a godly design that does not

change and does not end by expiration. I have not reached madness or

atheism, but I am a human who gets fed up, hurt, who complains; so thathe feels change or he hears his voice in the noise of those leaving and

living this life.

He said: On this land is what is worth living for Plants and green grass,

blue sky, a wide universe, lying, rolling in front of my eyes, flirting with

the water, air, sun and moon, and with a lover every night that he con-

verses with, swims with in seas of snow, water and fire, and listens to the

song of the free, smells the breeze of the past and travels to the future,

leaving behind catastrophes and memories that consume their owner with

regret and insomnia.

He said: On this land is what is worth living for Springs of water, flow-

ers, roses, basil and amber, a winter that brings loved ones closer, a

spring that blooms the seeds of love inside them, a summer that kindles

the love of meeting and its renewal in them, and the autumn of life re-

mains, in which all that they have carried of hopes and feelings fall into, so

that they remember a life that passed without them keeping a fresh flower

for its end, or a dream not tainted by the problems and worries of life. They

meet like strangers under the umbrella of paleness and pain.

He said: On this land is what is worth living for On this land is peace, it

has all kinds of faiths, and feelings that cannot be described by an artist,

mixing and merging in a strange way inside an entity called the human,

who in turn climbs the ladder of glory, the world opens the doors of suc-

cess and development to him, allows him to drink whatever he likes of

its good and beauty, and become versed in love and desire, analyze the

secrets of the body, explain its symbols and hear its call. Life attracts him

and he becomes gorged full, then it kisses him into a grave and leaves.

On this earth is I said: Enough hallucination.


17/20

17

The Obedient DaughterThought by Manar Al Balasi, Participant in Yes 4 Youth program/Edited

She crept to her room, crying, red in the face and with tears

in her eyes. She started crying and shaking violently, crying to

an extent unknown, and repeatedly saying things in the midst

of her hysteria: Why me, dear God? Why me? Raneen is a

girl who was blessed by God with a remarkable beauty, blue

eyes, beautiful body, hair like silk, a girl with an abundance of

femininity that made her the focus of attention of her friends of

the same age, in addition to her sharp intelligence Raneen,

eighteen years old, was a student in the final year, serious and

hardworking, approaching study with great vigor and desire, for

she always received many words of encouragement from her

teachers due to her intelligence Four months into the school

year, her teachers noticed a strange, unprecedented slippage in

her grades, and noticed her crying constantly in class, and her

immense hatred for going home. Her teachers tried to find thereason for the sharp change in her but failed. One day Raneen

came to school with a yellow face and a fear like no other. The

school counselor tried to calm her and ask what led her to this

condition But Raneens crying intensified and she remained

silent, biting her fingers in pain and inability to open up to her

teacher about the source of her grief Her condition worsened

as did her health and she suffered an immense nervous break-

down that made her live in constant isolation, huddled in a

corner of her room in darkness, covered in her blanket, seek-

ing safety and security in it Raneen started remembering the

events of that horrible night, for her uncle, every time he visited

her on the pretext of checking in on her, would try to molest her,

fondle her, try to kiss her in a disgusting manner, and feel parts

of her body, which would make her break down after he left.

Raneen tried to tell her mother about what her uncle did, for she

said to herself: Who will rescue me from him except my mother!

She thought she would find a safe haven with her mother, but she

was stunned at her mothers reaction, who hit her and started

cursing and swearing at her, thinking that Raneen was making

these things up about her uncle. She warned her not to say any-

thing to anyone about this Raneen kept suffering from her uncle

greatly till the hour came, for the uncle was no longer satisfied

with just stolen kisses from that attractive body. He took the

chance of her mother going to the market and waited for Raneento come home. Before she could close the door, he surprised her,

opened it and came in jumped on her like an animal, hit her,

wounded her head and threw her on the floor, tore her school

dress and raped her stole her childhood and her innocence, left

her swimming in a sea of blood and ran away

In this state, Raneen kept suffering from her uncle without ut-

tering a word preferring to be an obedient daughter to a kind

mother.

Letter for She Who Will LeaveThought by Bushra Abu Saymah, Participant in Yes 4 Youth program

I write the final page to you, my friend, because I hope that I will be the last creature you forget in this existence You may leave to

the place from which they never return, turn into an angel in the sky, and your soul will always accompany me Know, my friend,

that I love you and always will, but it was written for us to live as strangers in this life, to be destroyed by problems and worries.

I have carved you into my heart, like on stone, you and all whom I love, so that time is unable to remove you with its hatred and

pain.

Leave, for my heart is with you in every step, in every place, in every path, I will miss you but Then I will only look for you in my

heart, in which you live you occupy I see you bright, radiant, beautiful God is with you, my friend, go for there is no place there

for sickness and no place there for pain


18/20

18

You Dream of SchoolThought by Jihan Yahya, Gaza, one of Yes Theatre Supporters

She shrugged off the remnants of her dream rubbed the last scene in her eyes and got up to dress quickly for school The bell

will ring in a few minutes Thats what the sunshine whispered to her Moments less than you need for all you must do before

you arrive at school She left running, after wearing her school dress, and ran in the street All she could think about was Mr.

Sobhi with his big belly and his pants that never fit his flowered shirt he will tell her off badly for being late When her little feet

approached school, she didnt see any students, but heard a voice calling her from behind She turned in surprise and froze when

she found Mr. Sobhi with his big belly, wearing a tracksuit, carrying a plate of foul (beans) and asking as he smiled: Whats wrong,

my daughter?

She stuttered greatly started trying to remember the list of reasons she had prepared to justify her being late, but all the reasons

ran away She remained frozen in her place in front of Mr. Sobhi who looked at her with pity, before approaching her, patting her

shoulder and saying: My dear child, why did you come today Were you dreaming of school Go home, today is Friday.

Yes Theatre, A spirit of lifeIn the midst of a world full of unjustified Nos and in the bustle of the theatre of reality that is so drained of any reality, a breathof life and love comes and a lot of hope in the minds of young men who never knew the culture of No but insisted on replacing it

with Yes to make it the name of their organization and the title of their guiding behavior in life. The light of Yes Theatre shone in

2008 to communicate between youth in Hebron city, taking the society of the city towards another dimension of art and beauty, and

taking those who love art to the last moment between creativity and madness, bringing down the curtain of reality on the theatre of

life with unprecedented lightness and professionalism. Despite all obstacles and difficulties, these young men were able to build

a base for themselves from which they launch out into the world, so you see them today performing their art and inner abilities in

European and Arab countries too, to prove to the world that Palestinian theatre remains and keeps advancing its cause through

words and personalities of varying natures. Between high symbolism and reality mixed with some imagination, the actors of the

theatre please its audience with the highest art in existence, the art of the word followed by lighthearted movements, to capture the

audience of viewers, stay with them and live in them through words and gestures for a long time. How could they not do this when

they were able to overcome a society and a reality that rejects all that is new and hastens to all that is routine, when they were the

ones who were able to merge the arts of management and will?

Thought by Ayah Abu Mayyaleh one of yes Theatre supporters

Will You Dance With Me?It is now midnight. And you are in a military stance Even so, I will extend my hand to you to dance for you this time A Palestinian

dance, on the stage of wounds from the era of the first Nakba till the last one that has not yet been printed in the newspapers, and

which that chic broadcaster has not yet talked about!

You will not be angry if I tell you that this dance of mine will not be in the traditional dress or on that Palestinian beat but will be

a dance to some tune for someone who decided to sing and compose music on the shelf of a person that we dont yet know and

maybe we have difficulty pronouncing his name, maybe this will be another voice that you are not used to hearing But when I

begin to dance dont forget to scatter the papers of some story by Ghassan Kanafani over my head in honor of this dance of mine

and I will put the handcuffs of your hands as a bracelet in my feet You will clap for me with the last surprise that remains in you,

and we will drink forgetfulness till intoxication till we reach a level of no return the return of yearning and looking back, we will

dance together on the stage of wounds since the era of the first Nakba We will exchange laughter, quick looks and there will be

no remainder for the day and no end anyway.

Note: This is the voice of a female who does not age, sitting, since 1948, on a wooden chair, tied to an electric wire, drinking her

yearning for the details she lived in some history.

Thought by Doa Al Anati, Participant in the Yes 4 Youth program


19/20

19

Where Are We From Our Culture?Culture is an unbreakable part of our identity, with it we are strengthened and our belonging to this land grows. It is the sustenance

in our long travel to finish the journey, and is the weapon we use to prove that this land is ours, so what is our duty toward our

culture? Where are our popular tales in which we see the Palestinian person in his simplicity and firmness in his land? Where are

our songs that scream in their loudest voice: I am from you, so where are you from me today? Where are these songs that painted

for us the most beautiful pictures of social cooperation and the love of ground and olives? The song: Ala dalona w ala dalona, the

olives of my country are the most beautiful will not forgive our children if they let her down, and our poets, connected to our culture,

will not forgive them For here is the late poet, remaining in our memory, Mahmoud Darwich, using in his poem: A Canaanite stonein the Dead Sea the myth of Anan, and Anan is a mythical woman, the mother of the Canaanites. This myth is connected to the

Palestinian depth, for Anan in the myth bleeds the water of the sky in order to water the earth, and is there anything more beautiful

than this connection to culture? Mahmoud Darwich here gives us the most beautiful picture for the sacrificing, patient Palestinian

woman who gives life through her standing by the Palestinian resistor.

In the poetry of Izzedine Manasra, Jafras standing was elevated till she became a myth much respected and appreciated by

Palestinians, for her symbolism was numerous in his poetry. At times she is the beloved girl, and at others she is the homeland

and the revolution for he says: Jafra They ran away when you stood like a defeated star Bring the handkerchief and cover me

to sleep

Thus we should stand for a moment and ask ourselves about our duty toward our culture, where we are from it, and where our

children are from our popular stories that embody it, to know where to start from, to know where to return to.

Bushra Al Atrash

Participant in the Yes 4 Youth program


20/20

Picks from the Garden of My Life

Diana Al Sweiti, participant in the Yes 4 Youth program

Every tear has an end, and the end of each tear is a smile And each smile has an end, and the end of each smile is a tear

A single flower for a living person is better than a whole bunch for him at his grave

Do not try to make your clothes more expensive because they will make your present hell and your future a ruin It is enough

to have a stance from them and get a new push on the path of truth and right

Let the days do as they shall

And be accepting if fate decides

Do not be afraid from an incident of the night

For the incidents of the world do not remain

Do not imagine all people to be angels, therefore collapsing your dreams And dont let your trust in them be blind, because

you will cry one day for your naivety. Be like the water that breaks rocks while coursing drop by drop

The world is like the water of the sea The more you drink of it, the more thirsty you become

He who lives with two faces dies with no face

Do not argue with the stupid one, for people might be wrong in making the distinction between you

He who is unfair to his youth, has his old age be unfair to him

Money is a good servant, but a bad master.

Talk is like medicine, if you lessen it, it is beneficial, and if you use it too much, it can kill.

yella masrah - yes theatre - issue 2

Documents