User:Natnicola/Ashtar Theatre

Ashtar Theatre (arabic: أشطر) is a non-profit organization and community theatre group based in Ramallah. They carry out a variety of programs with the primary focus on the art of theatre, through intensive programs that focus on acting. The group also aims to foster improved self-awareness, confidence, and skills in leadership, communication, and collaboration with others.

History
Ashtar Theatre was the first youth theatre training organization in Palestine. It was developed by theatre actors Edward Muallem and Iman Aoun. Much of the work is out of the two main locations in Ramallah and Gaza. They've also held training programs in Jerusalem, Nablus, Hebron, Bethlehem and the Jordan Valley.

The Gaza Monologues
The Gaza Monologues were written by youth involved with Ashtar in 2010 right after an outbreak of war on the Gaza strip. In the wake of the more recent escalation of the Hamas and Israel war, in addition to heightened concerns over the genocide of the Palestinian People in October 2023, the Gaza Monologues shown themselves to be relevant still today. Ashtar made a global artistic call for support, asking that November 29, 2023 theatre groups and friends read or perform The Gaza Monologues in a show of solidarity with the Palestinian People. The Gaza Monologues were written in 2010 and was translated into 14 different languages. . Despite thousands of participants being involved, Ashtar requested that this show of solidarity be extended past the 29th given the unchanged violence and occupation in Gaza.