David Mowat
31st March 2018Our Palestine Cultural programme is finalised!
Here's what we'll do day by day between April 9th and 17th. Thanks to Kristel Elayyan of MishwArt and Singer Cafe and musician Zaid Hilal for putting it together, after months of dialogue. It's so exciting! I hope you see why it's such a worthwhile project. Some of you have expressed concern for us as we travel at this very heated time. We will keep well away from getting mixed any confrontation with Israeli forces, though there'll be times when we have to cross the Wall as our itinerary takes us into Palestinian-led cultural activity in Haifa, in Israel.
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Monday April 9th Arrival in the afternoon to a meal of stuffed vineleaves and zuchinni made by Zaid's Mum. Rest in our self contained apartment in Beit Sahur.
Tuesday 10th. A geo-political tour led by Baha Hilo in the day, followed by a meeting with local musicians in the evening, matching up our mutual needs and offerings (learning mijwiz, improving oud skills etc). We'll meet up with musicians on a daily basis thereafter.
Weds 11th. Simon Leach leads a music therapy workshop for local teachers of children with autism. The rest of us hike from Battir UNESCO world heritage site to Beit Jala up a beautiful valley. In the evening there's a jam session at the Al Jisser Bar.
Thursday 12th. Drama workshop in a local school led by Michael Loader and Marianna Moralis. Katie Stevens will observe and support a local clarinet teacher in his school. In the evening we perform Longing Belonging and Balfour at the Edward Said Music Conservatoire. Through this performance we'll tell our story of the huge part Britain played in creating the State of Israel-and creating the state of calamity for Palestinians.
Friday 13th. Workshop in using Middle Eastern modes for jazz improvisation facilitated by David Mowat and Knud Stuwe. In the evening Chai For All will present a concert of klezmer jazz and our approach in Middle Eastern music making at Al Jisser Bar Beit Sahur.
Saturday 14th. Longing Belonging and Balfour gig at Kabareet Club Haifa.
Sunday 15th. Vist to Ramallah Quaker Meeting. Visit to MishwArt members: music instrument makers, performance artists and to El Beir for a talk with Vivien Sansour, the founder of the heirloom seeds library. Workshop on stage presence run by Marianna Moralis.
Monday 16th Performance of Longing Belonging and Balfour at Nablus Festival, a fantastic initiative by Hakim Sabbah of Project Hope.
Tuesday 17th return to UK .
On our return we'll get stuck into the next phase, writing, reflecting, sharing ideas with Zaid and others, then creating the new show ready for our June tour in Bristol Taunton Leeds York and Reading.
Please share and bring others on board. We cannot do all this without you. Thank you.
David Mowat, for Chai For All
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