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In Between - A One Man Show
Written and Performed by Ibrahim Miari
Directed by Christine Hamel
In Between is a semi-autobiographical one man show that portrays the complexities and contradictions inherent in Palestinian-Israeli identity. On the precipice between two cultures stands Ibrahim Miari. In Between recalls his childhood in Acco, memories of his Jewish and Palestinian grandmothers, of war, and of the struggle to shape and understand his own multi-faceted identity- a struggle further complicated by his imminent marriage to a Jewish American woman.
The play was first presented as part of a thesis project at Boston University's School of Theatre, College of Fine Arts.
A Note from the Playwright
I have spent much of my life experiencing the conflict and cultural tensions between Arabs and Jews, Palestinians and Israelis. For over a decade I have been involved in creating theatre connected to the Middle East conflict, and in many ways have protested against the dominant norms of society through the arts. However, I have always felt the need to go beyond the political, to the personal life stories that express authentic feelings and offer an opportunity for connection and understanding.
The process of creating In Between has been a dynamic one. What began as a series of vignettes about my parents and my childhood in Israel, took a new shape with the intrusion of two realities in my own life. First, an incident in which I was held up for hours at airport security, and interrogated about my identity. Second, a rather more welcome intrusion, the planning and preparation for my wedding, another process in which my identity created the impetus for many conversations and negotiations.
Though my history is rife with conflict, the story of my marriage highlighted for me that we can not look to the future without looking to the past with compassion. ~ Ibrahim Miari
About Ibrahim Miari
Graduated from the Western Galilee College in 1997 and Acco Theatre Center's Actor Training Program in 1999, and Boston University's College of Fine Arts 2009. A member of the Acco Theatre Center Ensemble for over 12 years, Ibrahim's acting credits include: Arabic Dream (1996- 2006), Silhouettes, a one man show (2006), Tower or Babble (2005). Ibrahim has performed internationally with Acco Theatre Center's Sufi dance show Prayer (2001-2007), in Turkey, Austria, New York, and New Mexico. Since 1997, Ibrahim has also been performing folkloric and sacred dances, and acting in various commercials and short films in Israel. Since 2005 he has directed the drama program at several peace camps with high school age Israeli and Palestinian youth. Ibrahim's acting credits in the US include Blood Relative (2005), a world premiere at the Traveling Jewish Theatre in San Francisco and in Ambassadors of Very Good Will (2004) with Nephesh Theatre in the Bay Area of California. His Boston University credits include acting in The Virtuous Burglar, Red Noses, and Stuff Happens, choreographing for Aurora Borealis Festival of Dance and Light, and directing The Memorandum, and assistant directing The Love of the Nightingale.
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