The end of the play, when the performers, displaced by Israel's war on Lebanon, stood hand-in-hand at the front of the stage, on Friday, March 27, 2026. (Credit: Yara Malke/L'Orient Today)
At the entrance of the Lebanese National Theater in Beirut (Cinéma Le Colisée), people filtered in and out, pushing through polished red gate handles, worn smooth by use.Friday’s performance was part of “Raj3een [We Will Return],” and marked the occasion of World Theater Day.Organized by the theater’s founder and director, Qassem Istanbouli, the play was performed by youth displaced by Israeli attacks and threats, as part of a broader initiative with Tiro Association for Arts to revive cultural life in Lebanon and provide a platform for marginalized communities.Drawing on the participants’ personal experiences of Israel's war on Lebanon and displacement, the production explored themes of loss, return, and resistance through a blend of physical and visual performance. Istanbouli tells L’Orient Today.Organizer Istanbouli’s wordInside...
At the entrance of the Lebanese National Theater in Beirut (Cinéma Le Colisée), people filtered in and out, pushing through polished red gate handles, worn smooth by use.Friday’s performance was part of “Raj3een [We Will Return],” and marked the occasion of World Theater Day.Organized by the theater’s founder and director, Qassem Istanbouli, the play was performed by youth displaced by Israeli attacks and threats, as part of a broader initiative with Tiro Association for Arts to revive cultural life in Lebanon and provide a platform for marginalized communities.Drawing on the participants’ personal experiences of Israel's war on Lebanon and displacement, the production explored themes of loss, return, and resistance through a blend of physical and visual performance. Istanbouli tells L’Orient Today.Organizer...
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