Comments for RN Documentary: Theater in the Rubble

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This piece belongs to the series "RN Focus on Torn Lives - Stories from the Holy Land"

Produced by Eric Beauchemin

Other pieces by Radio Netherlands Worldwide

Summary: For more than a decade, Dutchman Jan Willems has been staging plays for Palestinian children, providing a much-needed outlet in desperate times. (29:30)
 

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Review of RN Documentary: Theater in the Rubble

Less a documentary and more a long-form interview, this piece is a profile of a Dutch director who develops a youth theater group in the Occupied Territories. With half of the Palestinian population under the age of 15, it's a fertile experiment. Jan Willems is thoughtful and compelling on the subject of the power of culture and art in a society disfigured by conflict and violence. The piece would have more dimensions with additional interviews with cast members and audience; as it is it's an interesting portrait of an artist who found his creative voice helping young Palestinian children find theirs.