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An intensely powerful moment lifted Bradford recently, as young artists from Palestine connected with peers - who live almost 3,000 miles apart.
The group participated in a special day of creativity with Stand Be Counted Theatre (SBC), the UK’s first theatre company of sanctuary, in their trip from the occupied West Bank to West Yorkshire.
Syrian journalist Anan Tello, an associate artist with arts charity SBC, said the first activity of designing a handshake had instantly ‘shattered borders.’
She added: “When the groups demonstrated what they created, language barriers dissolved.
“We weren’t speaking Arabic or English anymore.
“During a quiet aside, I told my colleague John Tomlinson that I couldn’t remember the last time I heard good news from Syria, Palestine, or even Lebanon - three neighbours that have been ailing for so many years.
“Bloodshed everywhere. Unimaginable suffering.
“He said people coming together like this to create, laugh, and connect is what gives us hope in this world - he was right.”
The remarkable group of young people were hosted in the UK by the Camden Abu Dis Friendship Association as part of their Beyond the Checkpoints project. This initiative forges human connections between Palestine and the UK.
During the visit, the young people worked with SBC’s team and its pioneering Youth Theatre of Sanctuary at Bradford’s Bevan Community Benefit Society.
Each person produced an artwork, and together they co-created a short film on what creativity meant to them before gathering outside Bradford Town Hall. There, two Palestinian boys danced the traditional Levantine folk dance, dabkeh, before the day ended with final reflections.
The remarkable group of young people have now returned to Palestine.
Chelsea Morgan, associate director at SBC, said: “The day was filled with joy and laughter from young people from around the world.
“We discovered that creativity allows us to connect with each other, sharing our passions and dreams in a group poem, or sharing our culture and history with traditional dance.
“We all started the day as strangers but ended the day as friends.
“This project will remain with me for a long time.”
Stand & Be Counted Theatre operates across the north of England, especially Bradford, Sheffield and Oldham.
The team has supported more than 4,000 people in the last three years. Their highly innovative and varied creative work is brought to life through genuine co-creation with people seeking sanctuary - refugees, asylum seekers and migrants - of all
ages.
Images: Ai Narapol
