Theatre director Ofira Henig tells John Nathan why her work with Palestinians could restore a lost sense of perspective to her country
In Spitting Distance, by Palestinian Taher Najib, is described as a funny and disturbing play about international travel in a post-9/11 world. Directed by Israeli Ofira Henig, it stars Khalifa Natour, who plays a Palestinian with Israeli citizenship, and arrives next week at the Barbican on London, where it will be performed in Arabic with English surtitles. Although, as Henig explains, it was originally written by Najib in Hebrew.
Khalifa Natour in In Spitting Distance, directed by Israeli Ofire Henig
“He wanted to write for Hebrew-speaking members of the [Israeli] audience. I co-founded the Rukab Project [a theatre collective, with Najib and Natour] as both a friend and a director to help Taher and Khalifa tell their stories.”
You oppose the Rukab Project being seen as an example of Israeli/Palestinian coexistence. Why?
“I don’t believe that there is coexistence in Israel, and I don’t like our project to be presented as such. It would be a way of covering up the truth, of making the reality softer and more acceptable — and I don’t accept that. I have worked with Khalifa and Taher for many years, also with other Palestinian artists. It [Rukab] is not a political demonstration. Maybe it started that way — but today it is a way of life. It’s my life. There are lots of activities organised by Palestinians and Israelis that seek dialogue. But as long as there is occupation, the dialogue will not be equal.”