There are places where a shared laugh is worth far more than a simple moment of entertainment; it becomes an act of resistance and human connection. This is what took place during the fifth edition of the Palestine International Theatre Festival for Children, which brought theatre to various locations across the Bethlehem Governorate from October 2 to 8.
Twenty-six performances, three workshops, and nearly eight thousand spectators - among them children, families, and the elderly: the festival is organized by "Al-Harah Theater," a company based in Beit Jala and directed by Marina Barham. The opening day drew around four thousand people between the premiere shows and "Yalla Yalla," the street carnival that launched the event.
A highlight of this year's international lineup was the contribution of Andrea Carabelli and Roberto Abbiati, two Italian actors from Teatro degli Scarrozzanti, who staged the show "Break a Laugh." Their participation was made possible through the support of Pro Terra Sancta’s office in Bethlehem.
"Break a Laugh" was performed for children and their families, as well as for the elderly residents at the Antonian Charitable Society, honoring the festival's commitment to making theatre accessible to every part of the community.
In a letter sent at the end of the festival, the theatre company's director expressed her gratitude to Pro Terra Sancta: “In the exceptionally difficult political and economic circumstances that Palestine is experiencing, this collaboration held a meaning that goes far beyond logistical support. Above all, it represents the shared belief that Palestinian children and communities have a right to art, imagination, laughter, and human connection.”
The Italian actors responded by recalling the laughter shared with the children, families, and residents of the Antonian Charitable Society - encounters that will remain with them “long after the final curtain.” They shared how, through theatre, people who have never met and may not speak the same language find themselves laughing together. Participating in the festival, they wrote, reminded them why they love this work.
It is in those shared moments of laughter that the true purpose of this project comes to life: alongside emergency relief, education, and cultural heritage preservation, Pro Terra Sancta works so that bonds may flourish and strong, invisible bridges can be built between people and communities—between those living in the Holy Land and those coming from abroad, between different generations, and between worlds that might otherwise never meet.
In a land where opportunities to come together are increasingly scarce, creating a space like this is a tremendous opportunity—one that theatre achieves with minimal means and without the need for translation.
