Support Our Art: Engage from Jenin to the World (Mushtabik)

Let’s begin at the zero point.

What is engagement? Who is the engaged one? And can the engaged one be human? These questions lie at the heart of the "Mushtabik" project.

My name is Khalil, and I come from Hebron, in the West Bank of Palestine. As a director, theater researcher, and activist, I am on a mission to launch an independent theatrical production that transforms how we approach art in the face of resistance.

This project began during my time in Jenin Camp, where I first started exploring the concept of Mushtabik—the engaged one—as a way to express our stories, our struggles, and our truths. I was afraid. For a moment, I wished that no one would ever be in my place. The main purpose of my journey to Jenin was to understand what it means to be Mushtabik—to truly engage.

At that time, the occupation forces had arrested a friend of mine, the technical director of the Freedom Theater. It felt as though the very essence of Jenin Camp was calling me. So, I went. But it wasn’t just about being present—it was about ensuring the theater would continue its work despite the constant raids by the army. Even when the occupation repeatedly stormed the Freedom Theater, I felt a deep connection to this cause. I knew I had to be there to keep the fight for freedom through art alive, ensuring that the story would never be extinguished.

This experience marked the foundation of Mushtabik—an invitation not just to witness, but to engage, to act, to resist. It is an exploration of political theater that transcends conventional methods. It redefines what it means to engage with the world, creating a space where artists and audiences collide, question, and learn together. Mushtabik calls on everyone—not just to watch, but to actively participate in the fight for human rights, truth, and justice.

In a world where our voices are often silenced, Mushtabik is an act of defiance. It strives to shed light on suffering and ignite change. It is not just about telling stories; it is about reimagining them and empowering us to create new narratives of freedom and dignity.

Our Project Goals:

• Research other theater/artistic methods that were created during and after war.

• Use these insights to develop a new, innovative theatrical method.

• Hold workshops with professional actors in Palestine, Greece, and other countries to experiment with this new method and document the results.

• Create a performance piece based on our method, accessible to global audiences.

• Produce a book that records the entire journey—from research to performance.

We say no. We reject the laws that have been imposed upon us. We stand against ourselves to ensure our own interests are upheld. Mushtabik confronts laws we’ve studied, laws we know, and laws that have been applied to us.

I don’t want theater as it is; I want to create the theater as I see it—how we, as a community, see it. Our law is no law. We don’t challenge ourselves; we challenge the world. There are no comparisons because we are not just reacting to the world; we are actively reshaping it.

Mushtabik is not bound by the past, nor by the laws that have been forced upon us. It is our attempt to create a new reality, a new way of thinking, and a new form of art. This is our declaration: we resist, we challenge, and we say no to the laws that don’t serve us:

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Why Do We Need Your Support?

After the war began, we realized that the traditional forms of theater we had used were insufficient to address the harsh realities we live with in Palestine. That’s when the idea for this project was born. Throughout history, wars and catastrophes—whether personal or collective—have given birth to new artistic movements. These movements better reflect emotional states and express identity, influenced by new circumstances and inputs.

Your support will help us push the boundaries of what theater can be, enabling us to create a space for collaboration, resistance, and reimagining the future through art. By backing this project, you are not just supporting a performance—you are empowering artists to engage in a process that will redefine how we tell stories and resist oppression.

The Team:

• Khalil Al-Battran – Director and researcher specializing in theater methodologies and social theater.

• Amal Al-Nakhala – Visual artist from Gaza, working on the visual identity of the Mushtabik project.

• Jamal Abu Ja’as – Actor and writer from Jenin Camp, helping finalize the research materials.

• Stavriani Gizori – Greek theater maker and youth worker, currently serving as a theater trainer and consultant.

Budget Breakdown:

Our goal is to raise $32,000 to support this project. These funds will help us assemble a talented team of artists and technicians, conduct essential research, and produce the performance.

• Research team: $3000

• Documentation: $2200

• Printing and publishing: $8000

• Director: $3000

• Writer: $1700

• Performers: $3500

• Translation: $1000

• Techniques: $2300

• Medical Insurance: $800

• Production: $700

• Transportation: $800

• Promotion: $500

By supporting this campaign, you are helping us create a new wave of political theater—one that is not just a form of art, but a method of resistance, reflection, and transformation

Instagram link: https://www.instagram.com/mushtabik.ps?igsh=cXhieDc0anZlNGhn