What we do

Palestinian Theater Performance Series “Prisoners of the Occupation” Work-in-Progress and Performance

  • Organization : Theatre Office Natori
  • Section : International project
  • Type of Grant Program : Single
  • Art Forms : Theater

Outline

Jewish-Israeli writer Einat Weizman created documentary theater piece “Prisoners of the Occupation” together with former and current Palestinian political prisoners. Weizman also staged “I, Dareen T.,” a solo drama about the poet Dareen Tatour, who became world-famous after being arrested and imprisoned for her posts on social media. Japanese performers and production crew engaged in work-in-progress sessions, reshaping “Prisoners of the Occupation” into a Tokyo version. The piece featured Kamel Basha and three male Japanese actors taking turns playing prisoners, guards, interrogators etc., reproducing various prison scenarios including imprisonment, interrogation, torture, hunger strikes, solitary confinement, the daily prison routine, transfers between prisons, and family visits.The work also includes letters Weizman received from other inmates as well as scenes written in prison and sent to Weizman by renowned author Walid Daqqa, who has been incarcerated for over 30 years to date. In “I, Dareen T.” Morio Mai plays the three roles of the writer, Dareen, and herself. The project managed to convey to audiences what is actually happening in Palestine, and provided an opportunity to reflect on the realities of the situation.

Profile

Theatre Office Natori
A production company formed in 1996. Projects have included producing a twelve-work series of Ibsen plays, productions for the Minoru Betsuyaku International Exchange series, the staging of contemporary Korean theater, and consecutive performances of some of the latest works in contemporary Canadian theater. Theatre Office Natori also produces overseas performances.
In 2018 the company garnered the 25th Yomiuri Theater Awards Outstanding Theatrical Production Award for “BUTCHER.” In 2020 it received the 75th Agency for Cultural Affairs National Arts Festival Excellence Award for “The House Where Boy B Lives.” In 2022 it won a prize in the 57th Kinokuniya Theatre Awards, and in 2023 it was awarded the 10th Hayakawa ‘Tragedy and Comedy’ Award for “KATABUI,1972,” a co-production with ACO OKINAWA.

Contact

Toshiyuki Natori
Producer
Theatre Office Natori
Cherry Heim#201, 1-15-1 Sakura-shimmachi, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 154-0015
Tel: +81-(0)3-3428-8355
Fax: +81-(0)3-3428-8355
E-mail: thntr123@ybb.ne.jp

Venues

Palestinian National Theatre El-Hakawati Theatre Jerusalem, Israel
Geki Shogekijyo, Setagaya City, Tokyo