December 10, 2010

Dear partners, supporters, students and friends:

It is my pleasure to inform you that the presentations of The Gaza Mono-Logues in NY went really well. The 22 international young people who participated in the performance and came from 18 partnering countries were absolutely amazing. I would like to use this opportunity to thank the youth, their organizations and their parents who trusted us and provided them with the opportunity to be part in this crucial event.

In NY, the group met daily at the Libyan Mission for a week and worked together with director Iman Aoun from ASHTAR Theatre and co-director Shauna Kanter from VOICETheatre – NY, assisted by Lydia Ziemke from Suite 42 – Berlin. ASHTAR Theatre was blessed to have the VOICETheatre team volunteering to make the work productive and pleasant. They also offered us a memorable Thanksgiving Day, a real American flavor.

The performance at La MAMA Theatre on November 28, 2010 was a real success. A full house attended the promenade performance where actors accompanied the audience members all the way from the street into the theatre, telling them monologues in the different languages. The performance was overwhelming; it left a strong impact on everyone. The young participants had an amazing emotional encounter over Skype that day with their counterparts in Gaza; this cyber meeting marked a turning point in their awareness and deepened their role in this project.

At the United Nations, the 22 young international participants performed in 12 languages at noon at the Conference Hall, facing an audience of Ambassadors, Country Representatives and NGO leaders, who gathered on the 29th of November 2010 to debate the inalienable rights of the Palestinian People. Various media channels covered the event. Another performance of The Gaza Mono-Logues took place that evening at the Lobby of United Nations, during the inauguration of the photo exhibition of UNRWA Summer Camp in Gaza. 

ASHTAR Theatre would like to use this opportunity to express its gratitude to the donors and organizers who made this event a success: Dr. Salam Fayyad - Palestinian Prime Minister and The Welfare Organization for their generous support; The UN Commission on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, The Palestinian Delegation to the UN, UNRWA, VOICETheatre, La MaMa Theatre, and Deep Dish TV who documented our rehearsals and performances and all the volunteers. The Gaza Mono-Logues strides are still pacing; the books in Arabic, English, French, Norwegian and Greek are ready for sale. The Gaza youth continue to perform their monologues in Gaza; new groups and theatres from around the world are keen to present The Gaza Mono-Logues to their audiences. In 2011, ASHTAR will be producing a hard cover book archiving the journey of The Gaza Mono-Logues and a documentary film about the global aspect of the project. A tour with the Gaza writers in Europe is planned on conditions of free movement of the Gaza youth.

For more information about The Gaza Mono-Logues please visit our website www.thegazamonologues.com and follow us on facebook (The Gaza Mono-Logues-Group). We wish you all a Productive and Happy New Year.

Regards, Iman Aoun Artistic Director The Gaza Mono-Louges Ashtar Theatre Ramallah - Palestine