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When Theatre Becomes a Refuge: The empowering journey of Al-Harah Theatre for Palestinian children

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Published: Nov 29, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/edth.43270
Keywords:
arts theatre creative expression healing resistance resilience empowerment cultural identity
Marina Barham
Al-Harah Theatre, Palestine
George Matar
Al-Harah Theatre, Palestine
Abstract

Amid the complex political, social and economic challenges that Palestinians endure daily, there is an increasing and urgent need for creative tools that provide children with a safe space in which to express themselves freely. In a context where genocide has caused the deaths of over 80,000 people, particularly children, and injuries to over
180,000 more, trauma and fear often stifle childhood innocence. The arts become a powerful form of resistance, resilience, healing and hope. This article explores the pioneering work of Al-Harah Theatre, an organisation that has integrated drama and theatre into the fabric of Palestinian schools, treating them not merely as extracurricular artistic pursuits, but as vital instruments of psychological, educational and cultural empowerment. Drawing on over 20 years’ experience of working in schools, refugee camps and community centres, this comprehensive account illustrates how theatre can be a catalyst for emotional healing, self-expression and hope in the lives of Palestinian children. Theatre and the arts have also played a crucial role in supporting women and people with disabilities across both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. These creative practices have become vital in helping entire communities to confront, process and heal from the ongoing trauma and devastation caused by the israeli  occupation.

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Author Biographies
Marina Barham, Al-Harah Theatre, Palestine

Marina Barham is the co-founder and general director of Al-Harah Theatre and the Al-Harah Performing Arts Training Centre (PARC). She is also Vice President of the Palestinian Performing Arts Network, the Euromed in Culture Network and the TAMASI Collective for Performing Arts Organisations in the MENA region. She is a prominent cultural figure in Palestine, the Middle East and Europe. In 2017, she became a Fellow of ISPA and the Salzburg Global Seminar. She is also a cultural management trainer in the Arab world. She frequently participates in European conferences, festivals and events, discussing the importance of the performing arts in Palestine and the Arab world. She has produced numerous theatre productions and co-productions, managed and organised several international, regional and local tours, and coordinated several Euro-Med projects funded by the EU. She has also organised the International Theatre Festival for Children and the “Yalla Yalla” Street Festival in Palestine.

George Matar, Al-Harah Theatre, Palestine

George Matar is a dedicated Palestinian cultural activist with extensive experience in the performing arts. He is the production manager at Al-Harah Theatre and the executive director of the Baladi Centre for Culture and Arts in Beit Jala, Palestine. He is currently studying for an MA in Community Development at Birzeit University. He holds a BA in Business Administration and a diploma in Marketing from Bethlehem University, as well as professional diplomas in Cultural and Arts Management from the Al-Harah Performing Arts Training Centre (PARC), and in NGO Management from Birzeit University. With a strong background in theatre, he has overseen the production of over 50 plays at Al-Harah Theatre and produced and choreographed numerous folkloric performances for the Baladi Centre. His deep insight into the cultural landscape of Palestine and the Arab region is complemented by international experience, including an internship at the Edinburgh International Festival in Scotland in 2017 and production management training at Piccolo Teatro in Milan, Italy, in 2016. He is also the main coordinator of the biannual Palestine International Theatre Festival for Children and the “Yalla Yalla” Street Festival, both of which are organised by Al-Harah Theatre.