Writing Birds

The workshop has a ground; so called mythical tales, woven in the east of the Mediterranean, recorded primarily from Palestinian women. Mother-tongue of the tales is Arabic, translation acts as a course for images to flow and to wash meaning. Any tale in the world is missing until some ear picks-up and a heart interprets to relate, we gonna work on this vacant land of receiving the reading needle of the text, by perceiving the elements of light and darkness in the reservoir of tales, which form possible pulling forces for a different future/culture.

At the end isn’t that why these tales are told for? For the ears of the young to grow imagination and relativity to the world, in ways that make personal and communal transformation possible? While taking into account the predetermined conditions and forces of earth and universe.

We will ask questions to the tales; why did the fly stop its daily wander to question the durability of a wall? And what does the slave mean when the word becomes a sound and a symbol surrounded by conditions and geographies?

Here the translation- which is a must inside one language of images to another of words, also coincides with translation from the world of Arabic words, Palestinian landscapes into another-  here the translation inherits the distance between space and time to offer a different door and be the crossing of elements between “us” and “them”, the “other” and the “real”, the “mythical” and the world.

In-between us there’s a flower to grow, the world of beating hearts exchanges air for the living at any cost.. and as such we are at best case the second-hand witness not the creator of the tale or the air we breath.. the space is to be complete in meeting alone..

14 – 21 – 28 Nov 2026
13:00
Astarotheatro
Sint Jansstraat 37 Amsterdam
This workshop is free, donations for the house are welcome
RSVP email and questions to: 3anqa@riseup.net

Palestinians Are Your Eyes
Reading & Gathering in Solidarity
Global Theatre Reading

A gathering around testimonies, images, music, poetry, tea and za’atar
A Theatrical Reading in Solidarity
Participating in “Palestinians Are Your Eyes,” as artists or as spectators, means taking part in an act of civic testimony.

Palestinians Are Your Eyes: A worldwide reading to never forget
On October 15, 2026, theaters, universities, public squares, and bookstores around the world will unite in an act of global cultural resistance.
On this date, dozens of companies, artists, and associations ranging from Brazil to Mexico, from Italy to Ireland, from Jordan to Gaza, will stage the texts written by the young authors of the Anqa Theatre Company (www.anqa.group) throughout the course of the same day.

Who is Anqa
Anqa is a theater collective born from an initiative by Progetto REC. It is composed of authors and artists from Gaza and Italy who, through theater and writing, transform their own experience into a direct, human, and unfiltered testimony. In Arabic, Anqa means phoenix.

Why October 15?
The choice of October 15 is not accidental: on this very day in 2023, young Anqa Company performer Abraham Saidam lost his life under the bombs in Gaza. With his death, the dream of a young man who wished to dedicate his life to art was shattered. Today, his fellow artists transform that pain into renewed hope: by entrusting their experiences to writing, they honor Abraham’s memory and continue the mission he could not fulfill.

Solidarity in Action
Any proceeds derived from donations collected during the initiatives will be allocated to fund the Jafra Center in Jabalia, Gaza. The funds will support the operation of medical clinics, tent schools, community spaces, personal hygiene facilities, and recreational and theatrical activities dedicated to children.

October 15, 2026
19:00
AstaroTheatro
Sint Jansstraat 37 Amsterdam
www.astarotheatro.com
www.anqa.group

Mask Workshop
a multidisciplinary workshop of masks, beats and theatre

The process of masks making with mask acting combined! We start by creating masks that fit our emotions and our imagination. We learn to wear those masks and we embody our imagination by using beats and rhythms and by creating awareness of our presence in the space. We also practice the basics of theatre: posture, movement, body in space, breathing and voice in many of their expressions.
Our practice is sensorial and originates from ourselves: memories, stories, sounds of stones and steps, images of repopulated land, reminiscence of touching, smell of seaweed.

Attendance at session 1 and 2 is required to be able to join session 3.
Limited number of participants
Please contact us for more info and for subscription
AstaroTheatro
Sint Jansstraat 37 Amsterdam
info@astarotheatro.com or @astarotheatro
This workshop has a € 50 suggested fee to support AstaroTheatro and her work
Sliding scale

1. Friday 23 October 14:00-17:00
Mask making (part 1)
We start creating our personalized masks

2. Friday 30 October 14:00-17:00
Mask making (part 2)
We finalize the creation of our personalized masks

3. Friday 6 November 14:00-17:00
Masks, Beats and Theatre
We wear our masks by getting inspired by beats, rhythms and theatre techniques
At the end of this session participants get the opportunity to present an impro performance with their mask to friends and guests.

BANGS 2026: Ghoula

Ghoula
the wound is a home too
shadow of theatre
maybe

In the tale, a Ghoula
Ghoula is a ritual assisted by performance art, poetry, storytelling, soundscapes and music

BANGS Festival: Ghoula
4 October 17:00
AstaroTheatro
Sint Jansstraat 37 Amsterdam
An AstaroTheatro Production
https://amsterdambangs.nl

BANGS Festival: Blabylonia
work-in-progress showcase

Who are they? On an unknown land they come together. At first, they don’t seem to understand each other but surely they carry with them histories/herstories, poetry, words, insights, music, movements, chanting and images. What if the so-called lingua franca is removed or rendered unimportant on purpose? What does it mean to speak one’s language where you’re expected to do otherwise? What communicates beyond or beneath languages? They’re searching.

Маці родная, Маці-Краіна!
具身為乾坤之象,
大地之臍帶滋養
Triremi rubate ai porti coloniali
لای لای نه‌مامی ژیانم
Ayrılık Ayrılık, aman Ayrılık.
Her dertten olan, yaman Ayrılık.

BANGS Festival: Blabylonia
work-in-progress showcase
3 October 18:00
AstaroTheatro 
Sint Jansstraat 37 Amsterdam
An AstaroTheatro Production
https://amsterdambangs.nl

BANGS Festival: On War & Images. Surprise Performance.

After three explorative sessions we are now ready to surprise you and us!
A participative encounter where images, materials, words and practices are provided with the aim of creating an organic performance flow.
Using the tools provided by theatre practice, this interactive session explores the pervasive narrative of war and how images produce its imaginary.

BANGS Festival: On War & Images. Surprise Performance. 
2 October 21:15
Lola Lieven
Rodenrijsstraat 43 Amsterdam
An AstaroTheatro Production
https://amsterdambangs.nl

BANGS Festival: The Universe or the University

An ever shifting pièce rooted from our frustrations with the Numb city and the Arrogant intellectuals. It imagines the fictional quiet village as the antithesis of our present surroundings – the rigid, superficial city, abundant only of insecurities disguised as over-developed rationale. While the fantasy village soothes and weaves sorrow and slowness in life, the city blocks, swallows, confuses and spits you out dismembered. 𝘖𝘩, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳.
The Mask intervenes as a friend, a movement, a reminder of closeness in chaos.
The clown appears in order to remind of loss, but they also ask a crucial question: which one is bigger, the universe or the university?! 
How to live in this cosmos of prefabricated opinions, midnight deadlines and real-estate havens? Suffering in joy with your friends.

BANGS Festival: The Universe or the University
1 October 12:30
Nieuwe Achtergracht 127/Roetersstraat 11. Roeterseiland. UvA Campus
An AstaroTheatro Production
https://amsterdambangs.nl 

Ghoula
when two girls inhabit a wound, maybe it’s a home to sleep, eat, be naked and sheltered from the sun or the late night cold

the wound is a home too

shadow of theatre
maybe
Ghoula is a ritual assisted by performance art, poetry, storytelling, soundscapes and music

12 July
Door: 19:00
Start 19:30
AstaroTheatro
Sint Jansstraat 37
Amsterdam
www.astarotheatro.com
www.ourfootsteps.nl
Entrance by Donation