Bethlehem Unwrapped A festival of Bethlehem at Christmas
Tuesday, December 24, 2013 at 06:36PM St James’s Piccadilly, London. December 23rd 2013 – January 5th 2014
http://bethlehem-unwrapped.org/
Through music, food, art, poetry, debate and more Bethlehem Unwrapped goes behind the romanticised Christmas card images of the ancient city to show what life is like for people in Bethlehem today. The festival celebrates the culture and stories of those living behind the wall and their work for peace. Hope, humour and humanity are reflected throughout the programme, which brings together renowned musician and composerNigel Kennedy, chefs Yotam Ottolenghi & Sami Tamimi, singer Reem Kelani, comediansMark Steel and Jeremy Hardy, activist and speaker Jeff Halper, actor Adjoa Andoh, film-maker Leila Sansour, video artist Larissa Sansour, writer and speaker Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, slam poets Harry Baker and Rafeef Ziadah and more.
Thanks to all those who joined us for the launch at 6pm on December 23rd for the unveiling of the wall, our major interactive art installation. To find out about the rest of the exciting programme click here and watch the launch day video here.
All net proceeds of the Bethlehem Unwrapped festival will be donated to Amos Trust’s ‘Future Peacemakers’ Appeal, supporting the work of the Holy Land Trust, Bethlehem http://www.holylandtrust.org http://www.amostrust.org
“The most unhelpful thing you can do is be pro one side; it just adds to the conflict. We have to not only understand those people who are oppressing us, but try to walk in their shoes, and ultimately to really engage with what it means to love our enemies.”
- Sami Awad, Director, Holy Land Trust
Amos Trust, a human rights organisation (reg.charity 292592) based in London, is the UK partner of Holy Land Trust.
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St James’s Church, Piccadilly in association with Amos Trust, Holy Land Trust, Interpal, Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD) UK, Jews for Justice for Palestinians, P21 Gallery, Tipping Point North South, War on Want & Zaytoun CIC presents BETHLEHEM UNWRAPPED A festival of Bethlehem at Christmas St James’s Piccadilly December 23rd 2013 – January 5th 2014 with Nigel Kennedy, Yotam Ottolenghi & Sami Tamimi, Reem Kelani, Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, singers from the Tallis Scholars, comedians Jeremy Hardy, Mark Steel, Ivor Dembina, Andy Zaltzman, Dave Cohen and more! All net proceeds go to the Amos Trust's 'Future Peacemakers' appeal, supporting the work of Holy Land Trust, Bethlehem. Amos Trust, a human rights organisation (reg. charity 292592) based in London, is the UK partner of Holy Land Trust. ART - December 23rd 6pm: ‘Unwrapped’ – festival opening ceremony with broadcast message from Holy Land Trust director Sami Awad in Bethlehem, unveiling of major installation in St James’s Courtyard and children’s art exhibition from Bethlehem, ‘All They Paint is the Wall’ POETRY - December 29th 7.30pm: ‘Slammed Up’ – an evening of slam poetry in the key of freedom, with 2012 World Slam champion Harry Baker, Zia Ahmed, Bridget Minamore & Dizraeli COMEDY - December 30th 7.30pm: ‘Stand Up Against the Wall’ – comedy night, with News Quiz veteran & author Jeremy Hardy, BBC comedy star & Independent columnist Mark Steel, Hampstead Comedy Club host Ivor Dembina (****The Guardian), Andy Zaltzman (“Breathtakingly good” Time Out) & Dave Cohen (“Smart & very funny” Huffington Post UK) FILM - Jan 2nd 7.30pm: ‘Jeremy Hardy vs the Israeli Army’ – comedy doc following News Quizveteran Jeremy Hardy on a hair-raising path through the Second Intifada. Palestinian film-maker and Bethlehem resident Leila Sansour will join us for a post-screening Q&A. (“Outstanding … riveting” **** Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian) CUISINE - Jan 3rd 7.30pm – ‘Bethlehem Feast’ – Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi present a Bethlehem Christmas dinner, raising funds for Amos Trust’s ‘Future Peacemakers’ appeal, supporting the work of Holy Land Trust, Bethlehem. An incredible opportunity for a truly seasonal feast in the presence of the masters of Middle Eastern cuisine. Come prepared for after-dinner dancing, led by Palestinian dabke troupe Al-Zaytouna! NB Numbers strictly limited - book early to avoid disappointment! Presented by Zaytoun CIC and Rocket Food PANEL - Jan 4th 8pm: ‘Both sides of the Barrier – Separation or Security?’ – speakers include Jeff Halper, founder of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD) MUSIC - Jan 5th 7.30pm: ‘The Bridge’ – concert with legendary violinist Nigel Kennedy and friends, performing his own composition The Bridge, with singers from the Tallis Scholars, directed by Peter Phillips, world-renowned Palestinian singer Reem Kelani and guest speaker Yasmin Alibhai-Brown