Ibda’a Theatre Program
The Theater of Ibda’a Institution in Dheisheh Refugee Camp – Bethlehem is considered one of the most important artistic and cultural departments within the institution. It serves as a creative space established to empower children and youth to express themselves and their issues through theatrical art, as an effective means of expressing Palestinian identity, reality, and collective memory. The theater is based on a vision that promotes the role of art as an educational and awareness-raising tool, giving children in particular the opportunity to express their feelings and daily experiences and transform them into meaningful artistic performances carrying humanitarian and national messages.
One of the most important theatrical initiatives within Ibda’a Institution was established in February 2014 by a group of children, with the aim of providing them with a space to express their emotions and struggles through theatrical performances, and to affirm their identity as Palestinian refugee children. This project marked a significant starting point in the development of theater work within the institution, as it focused on training children in performance, movement, physical expression, and delivery, helping them build self-confidence and develop their artistic and social skills.
One of the most notable productions of the theater is the performance “Hathayan,” an expressive theatrical work that reflects the Palestinian situation through a combination of movement and words. It is inspired by texts from the poetry of the Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish, including the poem “A’adfi Kafan,” which portrays a farewell scene between a mother and her martyred son. The performance presents a powerful artistic interpretation of the Palestinian cause through symbolic theatrical language based on physical expression, music, and visual dialogue, making it a distinctive work in the theater’s journey within the institution.
Ibda’a Theater works on developing the capacities of children and youth through training workshops in acting, directing, speech delivery, and theatrical movement. It also encourages them to participate in producing performances that reflect their social, human, and political reality. Furthermore, it seeks to strengthen teamwork, belonging, and the development of artistic personalities capable of expression, creativity, and audience impact.
Overall, Ibda’a Theater represents one of the most important artistic platforms within the institution, combining art, education, and social message. It contributes to building a generation capable of expressing its Palestinian identity through theater and transforming the lived experience inside the refugee camp into artistic works with deep humanitarian and cultural dimensions.
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