Celebration and confrontation: Akko Festival of Israeli Alternative Theatre

Abstract

Akko is an underprivileged city in the northern periphery of Israel where Jews and Palestinians¹ co-exist. The annual Akko Festival of Israeli Alternative Theatre was established by the cultural and theatrical élite, mostly from the Tel Aviv area in the centre of Israel. In 1987, there were provocations, protest and resistance by the Mizrahi Jewish residents of Akko city, especially against the left-wing liberal artistic management, which designed a programme with a political orientation. The protesters contended that, while the left-wing liberals wished to hold a dialogue with the Palestinian community, they marginalised and ignored the Akko Mizrahi Jewish community, which differs ethnically and socio-economically.

Keywords:

• theatre festival
• Israeli theatre
• artistic management
• host community
• ethnic and national tensions