Return to Palestine by Freedom Theatre Review
Written by Bronagh for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
Return to Palestine is brought to us by The Freedom Theatre, a Palestinian community theatre based in the Jenin refugee camp. The Freedom Theatre uses drama, movement and music to bring Palestinian stories to the stage. A pre-show speech by director Micaela Miranda informs us that Jenin has been under siege by Israeli forces for 127 days, with tens of thousands of people displaced, leaving the theatre inaccessible. This hasn’t stopped the cast and creatives, however. Return to Palestine has made it over to Camden in its UK premiere as part of the PalArt strand of the Shubbak Festival, telling the story of Jad and his own return to his Palestinian homeland.
Return to Palestine is made up of six ensemble members, with two musicians to the side of the stage using their instruments to build atmosphere and tensions as well as conjuring up a sense of location. The stage is completely empty and also tiny, a stark reminder of how small Palestine actually is. We start with a satirical welcome to the USA, where Jad is born and introduced to his Palestinian heritage. He decides to go to Palestine via a very tense flight and subsequent airport detention in Tel Aviv, where he is met with squeals when he tells others he is Palestinian. He makes his way to Jenin via ‘beautiful houses… swimming pools.. palm trees’, which are actually Israeli settlements. He meets his uncle Mahmoud and quickly learns of the daily struggles of Palestinian life.
There is nothing funny whatsoever about what is happening in the Middle East. All you have to do is scroll through Instagram or a decent news outlet to see what Palestinian people are facing. Remarkably, Return to Palestine manages to inject humour into the darkness. Although appearing lighthearted, there are darker undertones, particularly at the disgust and visible terror when airport staff realise Jad’s surname is ‘Mohammed’. It’s horrific that the families in the camp fall asleep to the sound of gunshots, much to Jad’s horror, but Mahmoud’s reaction lightens the spirits completely.
Considering this is a short show at only 50 minutes, Return of Palestine manages to cover the likes of settlements, checkpoints, gunfire and displacement. Storytelling and real life experiences are weaved together so intricately, none of the story is disrupted as it comes to naturally.
I was incredibly impressed by the movement used by the ensemble. They were anything from a taxi, to a motorbike to a bed. The all moved so seamlessly, moulding themselves into position and ready to go. In one impressive moment, they shaped themselves into a bumpy road and hills, the soft glow of the lights transforming their arms into a Palestinian landscape.
The ending of Return to Palestine is one that is the reality of Palestinian people, with people being shot and killed by Israeli forces on a daily. This is where it really hits home that this isn’t just for our entertainment, and this remains the current situation for many people.
Return to Palestine is a compelling piece of theatre, and one that I really do hope is performed again in London and further across the UK. This is a show that absolutely deserves to be seen.
★★★★★
