The diaries of teenage girls from war-torn Bethlehem have inspired a groundbreaking Celtic Connections performance set to captivate audiences in January 2025.
Musician Paul Thomson, formerly of Franz Ferdinand, joins forces with Ben Harrison of Grid Iron, acclaimed director Raeda Ghazaleh, theatre-maker Zoë Hunter, and audiovisual designer Dav Bernard for this unique collaboration.
The Palestinian Arab Orthodox Scout pipers of Beit Jala, with a century-long connection to Scotland, will also take centre stage in this ambitious project.
Bethlehem Calling, at Tramway in Glasgow on 25 January 2025, shares the voices of young Palestinian women during the Second Intifada and their reflections two decades later.
In 2000, English teacher Suzy Atallah encouraged her students at Terra Sancta School in Bethlehem to document their lives, resulting in vivid accounts blending teenage dreams with the harsh realities of conflict.
Raeda Ghazaleh first brought these diaries to the stage in 2002 and later showcased them as a verbatim theatre piece in London, earning critical acclaim.
Now, with Zoë Hunter’s reconnection to the project and Ben Harrison’s expertise, the diaries are being transformed into a multidisciplinary performance.
Hunter notes that while some organisations shy away from Palestinian narratives, the music industry’s openness inspired her to integrate music with these compelling stories.
Bethlehem Calling will blend verbatim theatre and live music, offering a powerful insight into the lives of young Palestinians past and present.
Paul Thomson leads the musical charge, joined by emerging Scottish talents Lewis Cook, Chizu Anucha, and Firas Khnaisser, creating a fusion of traditional and contemporary sounds.
The Beit Jala pipers, rooted in both Palestinian and Scottish traditions, bring their distinctive sound to the production, reflecting a shared cultural heritage.
Their unique style, influenced by the Scots Guards stationed in Beit Jala in the 1920s, has evolved into a blend of regional and Scottish music.
Bethlehem Calling underscores Scotland’s impact on global music and the reciprocal influence of Bethlehem’s soundscapes.
Far from being just a concert with added theatre, this performance promises an intricate mix of music and drama, telling the stories of young Palestinian women through a rich artistic lens.
The creative team, spanning Scotland, Ireland, and Palestine, will bring their parts together in Glasgow for a final, unified performance.
Bethlehem Calling exemplifies the ethos of Celtic Connections, fostering cross-cultural collaboration and showcasing a shared musical heritage.
This ambitious project offers a profound exploration of the Scottish-Palestinian diaspora and its evolving music over time and distance.
While addressing the impact of conflict on young lives, Bethlehem Calling is a testament to hope, resilience, and solidarity.
The creative team envisions this as the beginning of an ongoing international partnership, empowering these talented artists to create together long into the future.
