IT is a fact that is, perhaps, not as well known as it should be that Glasgow is twinned with the famous Palestinian city of Bethlehem. A friendship agreement between the two cities was signed in 1992 and a number of health and cultural projects have reflected the connections between Scotland’s largest city and the Holy city that sits in the Palestinian West Bank.
The cultural ties between Glasgow and Palestine are strong. For example, in 2015, Glasgow welcomed the Freedom Theatre of Jenin with their play The Siege.
The Palestinian company had a successful run at Glasgow’s Tron Theatre. They also enjoyed a civic reception at Glasgow City Chambers.
This year the cultural dimension of the Glasgow-Bethlehem friendship will be reflected in the programme of the Bethlehem Cultural Festival. With events in both London and Glasgow, the Scottish programme will take place on December 3 and 4.
READ MORE: The Jesus and Mary Chain: Darklands come out of the shadows ... but very quietly
The programme begins with a festive celebration at Glasgow Cathedral (pictured main). Beginning at 5pm on Saturday, December 4, a special carol service will include readings and carols from the Amwaj choir and the Youth Choir of Talitha Kumi school.
The service will reflect the diversity of the Christian communities in Palestine and will include an Armenian Christmas-related song in which the Amwaj choir will accompany the Armenian singer Levon Kalaydjian. The service will be followed by a co-ordinated lighting of Christmas trees in Bethlehem’s Manger Square and at Glasgow Cathedral.
The Festival’s diverse artistic programme, which is hosted by Glasgow’s CCA arts centre, includes a discussion about the Bethlehem Site-Specific Festival, of which Scottish site-specific theatre specialists Grid Iron are a part. Ben Harrison and Allie Butler from Grid Iron will be joined by Marina Barham and Adnan Al Bobali from Al Harah Theatre of Bethlehem and Glasgow-based Egyptian playwright Sara Shaarawi.
Film screenings include a documentary on urban sport in Palestine. Following the screening of the short film Go Home there will be a discussion on the theme of “crossing borders” between the movie’s director Razan Madhoon, film director Baha AbuShanab and famous Scottish actor and director David Hayman.
David Hayman Jr will be involved in the post-show discussion following the screenings of the short films Sawsan and Coffee Cup. He will be joined by the films’ directors Thaer Al-Azzah and Saliba Rishmawi to discuss various topics, including the challenges young filmmakers in Scotland and Palestine face as they try to break into the industry.
READ MORE: Here's what Scottish theatre has to offer for the rest of 2021
In the event titled Running Freely, three runners – sociologist and filmmaker Cairsti Russell, Palestinian architect and activist Diala Isid and playwright and theatre director and David Greig – will be in conversation about Russell’s upcoming film, Freedom To Run, and the Bethlehem marathon.
In the session headed Wasted Time: The Role Cultural Work Plays In The Community, Dr Abdelfattah Abusrour and actor/director Neil Leiper will discuss the crucial role of the arts within Palestine’s often hard-pressed communities. Dr Abusrour is the founder and director of Alrowwad Cultural and Arts Society, established in 1998 in the Aida refugee camp, Bethlehem.
On the music front, there will be a screening of a film by Palestinian indie rock band Mafar performing The End Of The Night, which is based upon the poetry of the great Palestinian bard Mahmoud Darwish.
Finally, to close the festival, the celebrated Palestinian composer and musician Faris Ishaq will play a specially commissioned piece on the nay, a type of flute that is specific to the region of the Middle East and North Africa.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here