On June 18th, Project Ten participants at the Sha’ar LaAdam-Bab Lil’Insan centre in Harduf performed their end of cohort play, Robin Hood. The production is something participants work towards throughout their five months in the project, and is a way of giving back to the community through artistic expression.
The play is an integral part of the cohort’s experience here at Project Ten. It is a communal effort that brings everyone together, whilst simultaneously creating a culturally inclusive production that all of the communities our volunteers work in can relate to. Our volunteers put to use their Arabic and Hebrew lessons, and expressed their skills for the purpose of the play, which was performed in English, Hebrew and Arabic. Working together weekly in theatre classes, our volunteers practiced and developed their theatrical techniques, and cooperated to create the script, costumes, background, and music.
Performing for the students from the local Bedouin schools where our participants work three times a week was a rewarding experience for our volunteers, who were able to showcase their Arabic skills to the students, as well as sharing their English knowledge in a theatrical way.
Joseph, 22, who played the lead, Robin, tells of his experience:
“I hadn’t acted before… I didn’t know what to expect, but I was really excited. I found that I was so interested in translating the lines to memorise them. That process really helped me improve my Hebrew and Arabic. Doing the play together was probably something that brought us, as a group, the most together. We worked a lot of hours, we were annoyed with each other, proud of each other, tired, but we worked really hard.
Performing for the community was amazing, I felt a strong connection to the people we performed for, especially the curative community of Beit Elisha. All the members were excited about it the week leading up to the play, and at the end of the show they all came up to hug me, it felt really emotional. And also for the kids. Even walking through Ka’abiyye to the grocery store, there were two kids I didn’t recognise and as I was walking one of the kids said ‘Robin Hood!’ – it was really nice, and I felt connected to Ka’abiyye in that moment. I think the idea we were performing for them was very special, they really appreciated it. To have it in Hebrew, Arabic and English all together made it a universal play, and I think it was an effective way to teach the kids about coexistence whilst also helping cultivate their imagination.’
