Secret festival in Jerusalem with Dutch and Palestinian musicians and theatre makers
This year,
East-Jerusalem has been proclaimed cultural capital of the Arab world by the
UNESCO. The festival’s art, cultural and theatre activities have been disrupted
or prevented by the Israeli authorities. Directed by Dutch composer Merlijn
Twaalfhoven, 50 young Palestinians and actors have been working together with
10 Dutch artists on “Al Quds Undeground”. More than 150 performances occured in
hidden places: living rooms, courtyards and rooftops. By adopting this
strategy, we created space for the artistic and cultural expression of the many
minority groups living in Jerusalem.
Merlijn and the
participating artists have chosen small, secret places, in order to be able to
focus on and tell their very personal stories. In this way they avoid
political, religious or national symbolism. One of the themes of the Secret
Festival was the intimate exchange of direct contact between people of
different cultural backgrounds. The aim was to make the voice of ordinary
inhabitants of Jerusalem heard in stead of the the hubbub of politicians,
journalists, ideologists and fanatics. The Dutch theatre makers Adelheid Roosen
and Laura van Dolron were amongst the Secret Festival’s participants.
Often, the story of
Jerusalem is contextualized by superhuman expectations and exalted dreams. By
stressing the personal, the subtle and the ‘small’, inhabitants and artists get
the opportunity to reshape their personal relationship with the city. The
message is not conflict and segregation, but contact, encounter, curiosity and
finally exchange.
Through art, stories,
films and video portraits, the festival intended to create the opportunity for
outsiders to become acquainted with a city that normally remains hidden behind
walls and doors.
Where and when the
performances take place was kept secret to avoid problems. Through personal
networks a local audience was invited that went to each performance in small
groups. The audience got the chance to make real contact with the city and the
people who live there. Behind every door there was a hidden, unexpected
treasure.