Bethlehem Festival Showcases Children's Theater to Global Audience

The Bethlehem Children's Theater Festival is set to launch on Friday, October 2nd, with a "Yalla Yalla" carnival parading through Bethlehem's streets. The procession will begin at the Antounieh Association at 3:30 PM, heading towards Bethlehem University, featuring giant puppets, musical and dance performances, and various acts. The festival continues at Bethlehem University with a performance by the Palestine Circus School's "A'ilat Al-Taqqa" at 5:30 PM, followed by "Lolly Bob" from the Freedom Theater at 6:30 PM. Throughout October 3rd to 8th, theatrical shows will be held in schools, kindergartens, and nurseries, alongside evening performances open to the public and families.

A number of Palestinian troupes are participating, including Naam Theater from Hebron, Popular Theater from Ramallah, Al-Seera Theater from within Israel, Masaha Initiative from Beit Jala, Al-Ikhwan Binura from Beit Sahour, and Al-Thallaja Theater from Hebron. International artists and troupes from Italy, France, and Estonia are also involved. The festival includes a performance from Estonia specifically for children aged six months to two and a half years, as well as workshops for children's theater artists and dedicated children's workshops. The festival's slogan is "Our Children's Joy is Resistance." Events will take place in Bethlehem, Beit Jala, and Beit Sahour with nominal entrance fees. The festival administration plans to print approximately 20,000 copies of the program to distribute to schools in the governorate to promote the various shows and activities.