On Monday 12 May, Oud Player on the Tel was performed at Cottiers Theatre as part of the Fringe Programme for the UNESCO RIELA Spring School: The Arts of Integrating, hosted by the School of Education at the University of Glasgow.

Written by Tom Block of the International Human Rights Art Movement and directed by Jesica Garrou, the play explores how the founding of Israel on Palestinian land—while offering a potential for peace—led instead to decades of conflict. The performance offers a perspective that centres the Palestinian experience while also acknowledging the vulnerability of Jewish communities at the time. It highlights the role of British and American involvement in the early stages of the conflict.

The Glasgow performance featured five original cast members from its New York premiere in 2024, alongside two local actors and the original director.

The event aligned with the goals of the UNESCO Chair on Refugee Integration through Education, Language and the Arts (RIELA), which supports creative approaches to integration and intercultural dialogue.

A short video featuring interviews and highlights from the performance will be available soon.

First published: 14 May 2025

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