4pm – Saturday 21st June

The Studio, Festival Theatre, Edinburgh

TBD (Pricing details to be confirmed)

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Speakers: Farah Saleh

The Horse of Jenin blends comedy, storytelling, and cultural reflection in a deeply moving performance by Palestinian actor and comedian Alaa Shehada. The show centres on a sculpture, the Horse of Jenin, which stood for 20 years as a symbol of hope and resistance for the people of Jenin. Destroyed in October 2023 by an Israeli bulldozer, the horse’s loss became a poignant symbol of the ongoing struggle for freedom and identity.
Balfour Reparations (2024-2044) is a performance lecture by Palestinian choreographer Farah Saleh, examining Britain’s colonial legacy in Palestine. It imagines a future where, in 2024, the UK issued an official apology to Palestinians, promising reparations. Set in 2044, the audience becomes part of a Reparations Evaluation Committee, reflecting on the impact of this fictive apology two decades later.  

Blending dance, archival materials, and speculative storytelling, the performance draws on Critical Fabulation and Afrofuturism to merge history, fiction, and fantasy. Through movement and narrative, it explores historical denial, responsibility, and the possibility of justice.  

Inspired by real archival documents and the role of Arthur Balfour in shaping Palestinian history, this thought-provoking performance invites audiences to engage in a conversation about colonial legacies and accountability.  

Join us for an immersive experience that reimagines history and challenges the narratives of power and justice.

Through humour and personal reflection, Shehada invites the audience to explore the power of art to document history, resist oppression, and preserve cultural heritage. Part of the RIGHTS, CULTURE, LIFE festival, this performance challenges us to reflect on the resilience of the Palestinian people and the enduring strength of cultural symbols in the face of destruction.