Bid to fund trip for Palestinian pupils is launched
May 27 2010 by Tony Henderson, The Journal
THE premiere of a film documenting the visit to the North East of youngsters from a Palestinian refugee camp will mark the launch of a bid to repeat the feat.
Last September, 10 girls from the Shatila refugee camp on the edge of Beirut made the trip of a lifetime to Tyneside to perform a play by Cullercoats writer Peter Mortimer.
The 12 and 13-year-olds played to packed houses at The Sage Gateshead, Customs House in South Shields, Saville Exchange in North Shields and Bellingham Town Hall in Northumberland.
The Palestinians were overwhelmed by the generosity of individuals and businesses in the region and the visit was such a success that Peter resolved to try to bring a new set of youngsters to the region next February to perform a revised version of the play.
But around £24,000 will have to be raised to make the visit a reality.
The film, The Palestinians Are Coming, was made by Alastair Cummings, from West Monkseaton in Whitley Bay, who is taking a film and TV studies degree at Northumbria University.
