The community is invited to hear stories written by Palestinians at two upcoming events. Vermonter actors and other readers will present Gaza Monologues: Testimonies Written by Youth From Gaza, Saturday, Dec. 7, at Sandglass Theater in Putney and on Saturday, Dec. 21, at New England Youth Theatre in Brattleboro.
Addie Mahdavi, one of the organizers of the two events, writes in a news release, "Americans don't get a full or accurate picture of what the people of Gaza are experiencing," and adds this is an opportunity for Vermonters "to directly hear the voices of young Palestinians of Gaza about their lives - or the lives they once led - their fears, hopes, and dreams."
The Gaza Monologues project began in 2010, when Ashtar Theater began collecting testimonies written by young Palestinians after Israel bombed Gaza. The stories highlight the horrors, hopes, and resilience of young Palestinians - "most of whom come from families who were displaced by Israel from historic Palestine during the Nakba of 1948," say event organizers.
Young writers have added new testimonials after every Israeli assault on Gaza, in 2012, 2014, 2021, "and the current Israeli genocide that began in October 2023."
Palestinian authorities have identified more than 44,000 Palestinians killed during the current onslaught, the majority of them women and children, Mahdavi says. "Human rights, medical, and aid organizations estimate the actual death toll could be five times that number, including hundreds of journalists, more than 1,000 medical personnel, and humanitarian aid workers."
The events, a two-part series of readings, come a year after Vermont community members stepped forward to stage a Gaza Monologues reading in 2023.
"This is a way for our creative community to support artists in Palestine, hundreds of whom have been arrested or killed by Israel because their work is such a powerful call for freedom," said Samia Abbass, another event organizer.
In addition to attending the readings, Brattleboro residents can take meaningful local action by signing a petition, which will be available at both locations, to place a referendum on the March ballot to make Brattleboro an apartheid-free community. The referendum would affirm Brattleboro's support for freedom and equality for all peoples "and the end of Israeli settler colonialism, occupation, and apartheid."
Gaza Monologues will be read at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, at Sandglass Theater, 17 Kimball Hill, Putney; and 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 21, at New England Youth Theatre, 100 Flat St., Brattleboro. Suggested donation is $5–25, with proceeds benefiting Ashtar Theater. Neither venue is a co-sponsor of the presentations.
Masks are required and will be available at the doors. Please send questions to [email protected]. Those interested in watching a livestream of the performances can email that address to request the link.
This Arts item was submitted to The Commons.