This document summarizes the work of an organization called From Stage to Change that uses playback theatre and dialogue circles to promote coexistence between Arab Palestinian and Jewish women in Israel. Playback theatre allows stories from audience members to be immediately acted out, helping to build understanding between people. Dialogue circles after performances give those who didn't share stories a chance to discuss their experiences in a supportive environment. From Stage to Change has performed for diverse groups including educators, mothers, social workers, and families in order to encourage empathetic dialogue.

1. Arab Palestinian and Jewish women promoting
Coexistence, Dialogue, Understanding and
Empathy in Israel through Playback Theatre and
Listening/Dialogue Circles

3. About Playback Theatre
Playback Theatre is created through a unique collaboration
between performers and audience. It creates a space
where any story - however ordinary, extraordinary,
hidden or difficult - might be told, and immediately made
into theatre. And where each person's uniqueness is
honored and affirmed while at the same time building
and strengthening our connections to each other as a
community of people. This theatre form is in direct
service to healing relationships, communication and
understanding between people.

5. About listening/dialogue circles
Following the performance the audience is divided into
small groups led by the actresses/facilitators enabling
those who did not go on stage to share their stories as
well. The deep listening and sharing in a supportive
setting created within the listening/dialogue circles
encourages a feeling of compassion and acceptance
towards ourselves and others.

8. From Stage to Change at Beit Yigal Alon Museum in Kibbutz Ginosar
The audience are Arab and Jewish educators who are looking for ways
to support genuine empathic dialogue amongst their students

10. The Audience

11. Special moments…

16. In a performance for Arab and Jewish mothers

17. A performance for Arab and Jewish teachers

19. From Stage to change event with Women Wage
Peace in Kibbutz Cabri

20. Our Audience

21. From Stage to Change performs and lead a workshop for early childhood
educators from the Arab Palestinian /Jewish Kindergartens at YMCA in
Jerusalem

22. At the national Playback Festival in Tel Aviv

24. For Arab and Jewish special education teachers in the
city of Karmiel

25. From Stage to change at the Arab town of Arara…
for a group of Arab Palestinians and Jews

38. From Stage to Change with Arab and Jewish Families

39. With Arab and Jewish Social workers

42. From Stage to Change on International Women’s Day
with Women Wage Peace and the Druze women from
the village of Hurfeish

45. Sometimes we work in collaboration with other playback theatre ensembles.
Here we are working with an ensemble from Tel Aviv and one from Berlin,
preparing for a performance for Arab and Jewish teachers

51. The teachers

52. With deep gratitude …