This presentation talks about the the Israeli/Palestinian Conflict and Performance and playwrights have been influenced to write about this global issue.

1. Israeli Drama and the
Palestinian Conflict
Nicole Goldstein

2. Introduction
• Israeli Theatre was non-existent until the
country’s establishment in 1948.
• Some of these earlier writings were seen as
propaganda.
• Plays were mostly social dramas, which revolved
around the audience being both spectators and
participants.
• Variety of established theatres, fringe groups and
avant-garde material presented today.
• Thoughts about Israeli Theatre and perception

3. The Israeli/Palestine Conflict
• Summary of what this conflict is/originated
from.

4. Israeli/Palestinian Conflict Plays
Various titles including:
– An Arab Woman Speaks
– An Israeli Love Story
– My Name is Rachel Corrie
– Seven Jewish Children/Seven Other Children
– To Pay the Price
– The Trainer
– Via Dolorosa
– Wall
– What Strong Fences Make
– DAI (Enough)
*Not all of these shows were written by Israelis, but this really tells a lot
about individuals and cultures around the world and their reactions and
feelings into this gruesome conflict.

5. Themes in Concerns with the Conflict
• Israeli Identity, particularly in the younger crowd.
• Zionist narrative and attitude towards
Palestinians
• Dehumanization
• Ethical Issues
• Personal and collective responsibility
• Framing the Palestinians as “different” and to be
considered a threat

6. Israeli Playwrights
• Hanoch Levin was one of the most notable
Israeli playwrights. He mostly wrote black
comedies and satire pieces which reflected
ideas of violence of modern day Israel and
20th century Jewish fate.
– His tragedy Murder portrays the brutality of man
in the midst of the conflict.

7. Israeli Playwrights Continued
• Women playwrights were not discovered until
the 1970’s, including Miriam Kany and
Shulamit.
– Throughout time, they tended to focus on realities
of current events and individual responses to the
national phenomena, war and the Intifada (Arab
terrorist groups)
– Currently on the Israeli Stage:
– http://www.israelistage.com/

8. Drama and Ideology in Modern Israel
• As a result of this ever growing conflict, artists
have written performativity pieces revolving
around this.

9. The Present Day Influences to Jewish
Theatre
• Historical and Social forces influence the
works of Jewish Theatre

10. Questions Asked of Me
• How am I supposed to find information about
a country who has been mostly nomadic for
many years to summarize their culture and
theatrical performance standards if they are
always on the move?
• Could Israeli theatre’s performance be based
in their nomadic escapades?

11. Work Cited
Abramson, Glenda. Drama and Ideology in Modern
Israel. New York: Cambridge UP, 1998. Print.
Oppenheim, Yoni. “The Origins of Jewish
Performance.” My Jewish Learning. Yoni
Oppemheim, 2012. Web. 24 Sept. 2015.
Rokum, Freddie. “Isreali Avant-Garde Theatre and
the Bible.” Isreali Avant-Garde Theatre and
the Bible. Academia.edu, 2015. Web. 24 Sept.
2015.