we are not numbers
emerging writers from Palestine tell their stories and advocate for their human rights
Script-In-Hand Theatre introduces hundreds of Britons to the stories of young Palestinian writers.
A performance of readings from WE ARE NOT NUMBERS: The Voices of Gaza’s Youth. Photo provided by Script-In-Hand Theatre
Stories and poems from We Are Not Numbers were showcased in the production, “If I Had Known It Was The Last Time,” performed this summer by Script-In-Hand Theatre at a series of venues in Devon and Cornwall, England.
Besides raising awareness about WANN and its book, WE ARE NOT NUMBERS: The Voices of Gaza’s Youth, the performing company raised more than £1,000 for WANN.
“Audiences were fascinated and moved by the dramatized readings of a range of work from these young Palestinian writers,” says Jenny Shryane, co-director of the theatre. “The audiences commented on the portrayal in the writing, of the innovative spirit displayed by the authors.”
Co-director Paul Shryane added, “Some members of the audience were visibly moved by this recurring theme of resilience, while others commented on the powerful presentation of such important material to a wider public.”
The six performers’ stories of hope and resilience were reinforced by photographs from the WANN website projected onto a screen, interspersed with quotations related to the genocide committed against the Palestinian people.
Quotations related to the genocide were incorporated into the dramatic production. Photo provided by Script-In-Hand Theatre
The final performance was on July 29 at Ashburton Arts Centre. Encore performances may be conducted in the fall.
Script-In-Hand Theatre is a small, nonprofessional community theatre group that started in 2020 and is based in Plymouth, England. It performs for free in a range of venues across Plymouth and the surrounding area, including church halls, arts centers, village halls, and art galleries. It gives any money raised through audience donations to charities and causes it supports.
This is not Script-In-Hand’s first dramatic work based on work created in Palestine. In November 2025, it performed dramatic readings of The Gaza Mono-Logues (2024 edition) on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. The performance raised money for the Ashtar Theatre, a Ramallah-based organization that developed the Mono-Logues based on personal stories of a group of children from Gaza. These stories were originally performed on the International Day of Solidarity in 2010 simultaneously by more than 1,500 youngsters in more than 36 countries all over the world.
