News

The Children of Shatila presents Croak, the King and a Change in the Weather

The Children of Shatila presents:
Croak, the King and a Change in the Weather
A Fable by Peter Mortimer

Theatre from a Palestinian Refugee Camp
and a reading from Camp Shatila – A Writer’s Chronicle

The main part of the programme is the performance of the play Croak, the King & a Change in the Weather, originally created with and performed by Shatila children on camp during the writer’s stay.
 
Based on one of the author’s own fables, Croak is the story of a greedy and self-centred King, whose indulgent lifestyle in the luxury of his sealed-off palace is at the expense of his downtrodden subjects outside. When his kingdom is faced with previously unknown types of weather which threaten the supply of luxuries, the King is forced for the first time ever to go outside the palace gates.

Peter Mortimer will also give a reading from and talk about Camp Shatila – a Writer’s Chronicle, his newly published book by Five Leaves Publications on the culture shock of living, working and writing in Shatila, Beirut, where 17,000 people are crammed into an area no bigger than a cricket field, and the scene of the infamous Shatila Massacre of 1982 when up to 3,000 people were slaughtered.
 
Showing at various venues across North Eastern England on 23rd, 25th, 26th, 27th and 28th September 2009  
 
Performance details
Wednesday, 23rd September
at 2pm and 7pm
Customs House, Mill Dam, South Shields, Tyne & Wear NE33 1ES
Tickets: £5.00
Call the box office on 0191 454 1234 or click here to book online
For more information about Customs House and directions, click here
 
Friday, 25th September
at 2pm and 7pm 
Saville Exchange, Howard Street, North Shields NE30 1SE
To book a free seat, call: 0191 643 7093
(2pm show is a free schools performance)
 
Saturday, 26th September
at 2pm
Saville Exchange, Howard Street, North Shields NE30 1SE
Tickets: £5.00
Call: 0191 643 7093
(both ticketed shows also include a performance of Wee Red from Theatre Tantarra)

Sunday, 27th September
at 7pm 
Town hall, Bellingham  
Tickets: £5.00
Call: 0779 226 1603
(also on the programme, live Northumbrian Pipes)
 
Monday, 28th September
at 1.30 and 7pm
The Sage Gateshead, St Mary's Square, Gateshead Quays, Gateshead NE8 2JR  
Tickets: £10.00
Call the box office on 0191 443 4661
(also on the programme live Palestinian Music from the Mongrel Project)
 
Seating is limited so please book ahead.