Digital StorytellingAbout us - Amdanom ni
Aberystwyth Arts Centre and The Freedom Theatre Palestine Exchange
The link between the Aberystwyth Arts Centre and The Freedom Theatre was established by Jacob Gough. Jacob is from Aberystwyth and is only 23 years old. Inspired by a documentary about the treatment of Palestinian protestors by the Israeli army Jacob determined to leave the safety of his home town and travel to Palestine. His experiences whilst there, and the people he met, strengthened his commitment to work to achieve change in an area of the world blighted by conflict. Jacob left his job as a theatre technician at the Arts Centre to work for The Freedom Theatre and human rights groups operating in the West Bank. Using his technical skills Jacob was able to assist The Freedom Theatre’s development as a professional venue. Jacob says “The Freedom Theatre offers children a safe space to play and to laugh, to just be children.”
The Freedom Theatre’s aim is to provide the children and youth of Jenin Refugee Camp with a safe space in which they are free to express themselves and in which they can develop skills, self-knowledge and confidence. The Freedom Theatre’s unique programme includes workshops and activities in theatre, supporting arts and multi-media, ranging in emphasis from therapy and healing, to the presentation of high-quality artistic products. Through its work The Freedom Theatre empowers and gives voice to the children of Jenin Refugee Camp, enabling them to challenge present realities and to reach out beyond the limits of their own community. There are several Freedom Theatre support groups throughout Europe, the most recent being a group backed by a French support group and the Aberystwyth Arts Centre in West Wales.
The Arts Centre and Friend’s of The Freedom Theatre Aberystwyth are working towards bringing two young people from The Freedom Theatre to the Arts Centre for a work placement. Alan Hewson, Director of Aberystwyth Arts Centre says “Conflict resolution and theatre community arts are an established part of today’s artistic and social culture. Aberystwyth Arts Centre is looking forward to welcoming the Freedom Theatre trainees. During their stay the Arts Centre will provide them with technical training. The skills that they learn will help them to assist The Freedom Theatre to further develop as the only professional venue for theatre and arts in the north of the Palestinian Territories.”
To join or make a contribution to the Aberystwyth Freedom Theatre support group please contact Jacob Gough.
For more information on The Freedom Theatre click here.
Canolfan y Celfyddydau Aberystwyth a’r cysylltiad gyda The Freedom Theatre Palesteina
Sefydlwyd y ddolen rhwng Canolfan y Celfyddydau Aberystwyth a’r Freedom Theatre gan Jacob Gough. Mae Jacob yn dod o Aberystwyth ac mae’n 23 mlwydd oed. Ar ôl cael ei ysbrydoli gan ffilm ddogfen ynglyn â’r ffordd yr oedd protestwyr Palestinaidd yn cael eu trin gan y fyddin Israelaidd, penderfynodd Jacob ymadael â diogelwch tref ei febyd a theithio i Balesteina. Bu ei brofiad tra ‘roedd yno, a’r bobl y bu’n cyfarfod â nhw, yn cryfhau ei benderfyniad i weithio er mwyn cyflawni newidiadau yn yr ardal hon o’r byd sydd wedi dioddef gymaint yn sgil gwrthdaro. Gadawodd ei waith fel technegydd theatr yng Nghanolfan y Celfyddydau i weithio i’r Freedom Theatre a’r grwpiau hawliau dynol sy’n gweithredu yn y Banc Gorllewinol. Trwy ddefnyddio ei sgiliau technegol ‘roedd Jacob yn medru cynorthwyo i ddatblygu’r Freedom Theatre fel theatr broffesiynol. Dywed Jacob: “Mae’r theatr bellach yn cynnig lle diogel i blant i chwarae ac i chwerthin, jyst i fod yn blant.”
Mae’r Freedom Theatre yn anelu at ddarparu lle diogel ar gyfer plant a phobl ifanc Gwersyll Ffoaduriaid Jenin lle maent yn rhydd i fynegi eu hunain a lle y gallant ddatblygu sgiliau, hunan-ymwybyddiaeth ac hyder. Mae rhaglen unigryw y Theatr yn cynnwys gweithdai a gweithgareddau ym maes theatr, y celfyddydau ehangach ac aml-gyfrwng, yn amrywio mewn pwyslais o therapi a gwella, i gyflwyno cynyrchiadau artistig o safon uchel. Trwy ei gwaith mae’r Theatr yn rhoi llais i blant y Gwersyll yn Jenin ac yn eu galluogi i herio’r amgylchiadau presennol ac i ymestyn allan y tu hwnt i gyfyngiadau eu cymuned eu hunain. Mae gan y Theatr nifer o grwpiau cynnal ledled Ewrop, y rhai mwyaf diweddar yw grŵp cynnal yn Ffrainc a’r un yng Nghanolfan y Celfyddydau Aberystwyth.
Mae Canolfan y Celfyddydau a Chyfeillion y Freedom Theatre Aberystwyth yn gweithio tuag at ddod â dau berson ifanc o’r Freedom Theatre i Ganolfan y Celfyddydau am gyfnod o brofiad gwaith. Dywed Alan Hewson, Cyfarwyddwr Canolfan y Celfyddydau: “Mae datrys gwrthdaro a chelfyddydau cymunedol y theatr yn rhan sefydledig o ddiwylliant artistig a chymdeithasol heddiw. Mae Canolfan y Celfyddydau Aberystwyth yn edrych ymlaen at groesawu’r bobl ifanc o’r Freedom Theatre . Yn ystod eu cyfnod efo ni bydd y Ganolfan yn darparu hyfforddiant technegol ar eu cyfer. Bydd y sgiliau y maent yn dysgu yn eu helpu i gyfrannu tuag at ddatblygiad y Freedom Theatre fel yr unig ganolfan broffesiynol ar gyfer y theatr a’r celfyddydau yng ngogledd y Tiriogaethau Palestinaidd.”
I ymuno neu i wneud cyfraniad tuag at grŵp cynnal Freedom Theatre Aberystwyth fe’ch gwahoddir i gysylltu â Jacob Gough.
Am ragor o wybodaeth am y Freedom Theatre cliciwch yma.