Achievements

ASHTAR Achievements

2007 Conducting the First International Festival in Palestine “The Theatre of the Oppressed Season” from April to June. Performing the legislative play “The Story of Mona” at the Sixth World Congress for International Drama/Theatre & Education Association (IDEA) which was held in Hong Kong during the month of July. The congress was attended by more than 500 artists and experts from all over the world The Production of the forum play “The Story of Said Al Masoud” that tackles the issue of drugs. The Production of the physical play “The Last Supper in Palestine” where it participated in the international festival “Dancing on the Edge” in the Netherlands during the month of December.
2006 Hosted for the third year, Barbara Santos, the General Coordinator of the CTO, Brazil where she conducted a workshop on Image Theatre. Published the Analysis Study of the audience recommendations after the local performances of the Legislative play “The Story of Mona”. Hosted the Dutch Director, Annamieke Delis, from “Theatre Embassy” for six months at Ashtar. Produced and performed the monodrama “Safad Shatilla, vice versa”. Introduced the Location Theatre to the Palestinian audience through the play “Twenty Minutes”. Produced and performed a women play in three languages “Women Under the Spotlight”. Continued the performances of the Legislative play “The Story of Mona” locally and regionally. As part of Ashtar program’s in Universities, Ashtar produced the forum play “Badriyeh” with the students of the American University, Jenin. Trained three local community groups on forum theatre techniques in addition to regional training in Jordan and Egypt. Participated in the international Theatre of The Oppressed Festival “Muktadhara II” in Kolkata, India. Produced six plays within the various Ashtar’s drama clubs. Hosted the notable International Director Peter Brook and his performance “Sizwe Banzi is Dead”.
2005 Hosted Barbara Santos, the General Coordinator of the CTO, Brazil where she conducted a workshop on Legislative Theatre. Also she directed the Legislative play “The Story of Mona” where 60 performances were conducted in the various areas of the West Bank. Produced and performed the experimental play “The Era of Whales”. Translated and published Augusto Boal’s book “Games for Actors and Non-Actors”. Launched a new project “New Playwrights and Directors” in local universities and colleges where two performances were produced for the best two plays. Conducted a creative writing training workshop in cooperation with Iowa University, USA. Conducted various forum and drama clubs with the students. Continued the performances of the local community groups’ forum performances
2004 Partnership with the Centre of The Theatre of Oppressed (CTO), Brazil where Ashtar hosted Barbara Santos, the General Coordinator of the CTO to conduct a training workshop. Launched the training of local community groups on forum theatre techniques where four groups were trained during the first year. Continued the performances of The Earth Gods and Abu Shaker –The Instructor. Finalized the Drama Days third phase where more than 10,000 students were reached Published Ashtar Drama Training Curriculum “From Circle to Empty Space”. Ashtar Artistic Director, Iman Aoun, conducted a workshop and a forum play “Majnoun Saytarah” with the theatre students at the University of Iowa, United States.
2003 The production of Hercules’ Children, in association with Saint Joseph School, Ramallah Performances of Abu Shakers Affairs Graduation of the first 12 students from the Drama Teachers Training program The launch of the second Drama Teachers Training program Launching the Drama Day at Schools project Mojisola Adebayo conducted a, ‘Rainbow of Desires’, workshop	2002 The Production of the sixth forum theatre series, Abu Shakers Affairs, which deals with violence in schools Emergency interventional: Due to the month and half long curfew in Ramallah Drama Day at Schools Project, was devised The publication of A Blazing Stage, to celebrate Ashtar’s tenth anniversary The production of Forest of Dreams’, in cooperation with Mi’ilya Theatre Participation in the ‘Human Rightsand Democracy’ regional conference held in Jordan
2001 Touring with “Of Soil and Crimson” in Jordan and Tunisia and the award for the best “theatre technique” at the Carthage Theatre Days Festival. Producing the fifth Forum Theatre series “Abu Shaker’s Affairs 2001.” Ashtar at the village of Mi’ilya in the upper Galilee training and producing the play “Fakran’s Dream” with the village secondary school students. Launching the Drama Teachers Training program with Private, Government and UNRWA schoolteachers. Bringing theatre clubs for the first time into Government and UNRWA schools.	2000 “Land and Sky,” the first professional play geared towards children. “Of Soil and Crimson,” the major co-production of three Arab companies - Ashtar of Palestine, Mir’at Media of Jordan and El Teatro of Tunisia - was performed at the Manger Square in Bethlehem as part of the second millennium celebrations. Producing the fourth Forum Theatre series “Abu Shaker’s Affairs 2000.” Participating in the establishment of the Art Centres Network in Ramallah in addition to five other art institutions.
1999 Producing the first women’s play “Women of Sand and Myrrh” from a novel by Hanan el Sheikh, in cooperation with Maralam Theatre of Switzerland. Producing the third Forum Theatre series “Abu Shaker’s Affairs 99.”	1998 In commemoration of the 50th year of “Nakbah,” Ashtar produced the third professional play “Boring” adapted from “Meditation of the Fugitive” by Berthold Brecht. In celebration of Berthold Brecht’s birth centenary, Ashtar held a theatre week in Jerusalem in cooperation with Goethe Institute - Ramallah. Producing the second play in the Forum Theatre series “Abu Shaker’s Affairs 98.” Producing the fifth student’s play “The Catastrophe” by Samuel Beckett and graduating the fourth group of theatre students. Launching the Drama Clubs program in schools under the supervision of Ashtar graduates and teachers.
1997 Ashtar’s participation in preparing the primary drama program in schools as part of the new national Palestinian curriculum through the Palestinian Curriculum Centre. Participation with Yaboos in organizing the first Arab Theatre Week in Jerusalem. Organizing the round table program for “The 1997 Arab Theatre” in cooperation with the Palestinian Centre of the “International Institute of Theatre in the Mediterranean.” Producing the “Little Prince,” the fourth production with Ashtar’s students and graduating the third group of students. Producing the first Forum Theatre play in the series of “Abu Shaker’s Affairs.” Holding an international conference regarding theatre education curriculum, and was attended by a number of teachers, academics and directors from several countries viz. Canada, Germany, Britain, Switzerland, France, Sweden, Jordan and Palestine.	1996 “Martyrs are Coming Back,” the first international theatrical participation in the “International Cairo Festival for Experimental Theatre.” The play reaped two awards: a special recognition certificate, presented by ‘Cairo - cultural capital of the Arab World’ and the Award of Best Actress. Graduation of the second group of Ashtar’s theatre students. Establishment of the Palestinian Centre of the “International Institute of Theatre in the Mediterranean” and hosting it at Ashtar Theatre. Launching the “Drama Trainers Training” program for a period of two years tailored for Ashtar graduates.
1995 Establishment of Ashtar Theatre in Ramallah. Graduation of the first group of Ashtar Theatre students, which gave a remarkable push to the program among the schools, the students and the families. Production of the play “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” with 23 male and female trainees and holding the third course in theatre skills around the summer production. Producing the first professional play “The Last 1995 One” with Ashtar’s teachers. Producing the second professional play “Martyrs Are Coming Back” with Ashtar’s teachers and graduates.	1994 Follow up on theatre training at schools throughout the scholastic year. Production of the play “Arnab... Arnab... Do you read me?” with the theatre students in Ramallah and the participation of 17 male and female trainees. The second course for theatre skills in lighting, make-up, costume and their application to the summer production. First acting training course in Gaza with 12 students and producing with them the play “One for the Road.”
1993 Starting the summer program and producing the first student theatre play with 8 different school students in “The Beauty and the Beast.” The training on the different theatre skills started with the first lighting, make-up and costume course over a period of six weeks.	1992 Concluding a three-year partnership agreement with Maralam Theatre of Switzerland and bringing its artistic director twice a year; for training the staff and students in autumn and to direct the students summer production in addition to assisting Ashtar in setting the Acting Training Program. Starting the first training term of the three-year program directed at students in ten schools of Jerusalem and Ramallah and the enrolment of 80 students to the program.
1991 Launching the first program for teaching theatre in Palestine through the foundation of Ashtar for Theatre Productions and Training.