May 14, 2008

Bethlehem University Drama Society Acts Out Gender Issues on Campus

Until four months ago, Maram Abu Khdair didn't think she could act even though it had always been her dream to be an actress. Today, after weeks of rehearsal and drama training, she knows she's got talent. The second-year education student said her experience as a member of the Bethlehem University Drama Society (BUDS) has transformed her life.

“It changed me, it touched me,” she said. “I have the talent, that's the most important thing, to know about myself now.”

Last week the group of 20 students put on two presentations of their play‘Why Not?', a Forum Theatre production meant to draw attention to gender issues on campus and in the wider Palestinian community. Forum theatre presents a story in which the protagonist attempts to overcome oppressive forces in society and fails. In Why Not?, Balqis, the lead character, is a female student at Bethlehem University who wants to become a member of the Student Senate.

The production focused on three main viewpoints which might be found on campus: students who think girls should take part in politics and decision-making, those who don't and those who can't decide or don't care. As well, the play – which was written and created by the drama students – addressed gender issues in the home and how they translate to campus. After the initial performance, members of the audience are encouraged to come onstage and recreate scenes so the Balqis character might succeed in changing minds and overcoming obstacles.

Maram said her father saw the show and she hoped it would change some of his views. “Every father thinks about the forbidden things we shouldn't do and how they're always strict about having new things in our lives, as girls,”
she said. “We have girls at the university and they have really good minds and opinions and characteristics. They need someone to push them, to tell them we believe in you.”

Paul Moclair, a Development Worker from Ireland , said he thought the subject matter was important, but difficult for many students to discuss. Moclair joined Director Dr. Hala Al-Yamani of the Faculty of Education, to help write and facilitate the project. He said although women make up 71 per cent of the student body, there are only two female students holding seats in a 16-seat Student Senate Conference. Because of this, Moclair said he knew the production would raise many questions, which is the goal of Forum Theatre.

As well as struggling to discover their artistic sides and debate gender issues, the drama students, along with family and friends who came to see their show, struggled to cross checkpoints in order to get to the university for rehearsals and performances. Maram said she missed several rehearsals after she lost her ID card and wasn't able to cross the checkpoint into Bethlehem . Also, many actors from outside the Bethlehem area were forced to stay with friends near the university so they wouldn't miss their performances.

However, Maram said she's happy she had the opportunity to develop her acting skills and she hopes to continue to pursue her newfound talent. The group will now go on to represent Bethlehem University in performances of Why Not? in several other venues in Bethlehem and throughout the Palestinian Territories .

For more information about the Bethlehem Drama Society's performances or about Forum Theatre, visit their website at http://education.bethlehem.edu/Projects.htm