Marking the Nakba
A 24-hour reading of Palestinian poetry.
From early morning (00:00) May 15th to midnight May 15th (24:00), join us for 24 hours of Palestinian poetry marking Nakba Day. This event is free. Come and go as you wish. Join us to hear readings of vital poetry, of life and resistance. works by:
Fadwa Tuqan, Dareen Tatour, Fady Joudah, Mosab Abu Toha, Mahmoud Darwish, Lena Khalaf Tuffaha, Hala Alyan, Refaat Al Areer, Ghassan Zaqtan, Mohammad El Kurd, Natalie Fasheh, Roula Said, Hani Morrar, Leen Amarin and Maysam Abu Khreibeh, Noor Hindi, George Abraham, Rasha Abdulhadi, Basram Aldirawi and Nassar Rabah, Maya Abou Al Hayyat and Rafeef Ziadah and many brilliant other Palestinian poets.
Free WiFi will be available and coffee and tea will be available for purchase at the café/bar.
Presented by Poetry for Palestine Toronto and The Theatre Centre. Co-sponsored by Toronto Palestine Film Festival, Another Story Bookshop and Aluna Theatre. Donations to cover costs will be accepted at the event. Any remaining donated funds will be donated to TPFF.
Notes on Artists
Palestinian Artists have generously share beautiful works, projected in conversation with the poetry.
Jude Abu Zaineh FORMations
FORMations reflects the natural ecology of food and flora in the region. Sampling the earth, indige nous and collected plant species, and leftover foods, FORMationsexamines the constant evolution within an ever-shifting cultural and geographical landscape; the petri-dish environment makes visible the invisible by providing a medium of growth for the microbial and bacterial communities that naturally exist within food and our overall surroundings. This enclosed environment gives metaphorical and visual connections to the often ignored or erased narratives and the layered complexities of hybrid existences that many newcomer (human and nonhuman species) experience in their respective, evolving habitats.
The work gives a visual nod to the artist’s cultural heritage in referencing geometric forms found in South West Asia and North African architecture and Islamic art, while acknowledging the larger landscapes, foods, resources, and diverse ecosystems that make-up Southwest Ontario & region. Also taking additional inspiration from the Southwest Ontario landscape and Ron Benner’s adjacent public garden, As The Crow Flies.
John Kameel Farah Ink Drawings
John is a composer, pianist and visual artist who creates intricate and detailed ink line-drawings. which draw inspiration from astronomy, sound waves, and Near-Eastern history and mythology. He has presented his artwork at solo and group exhibitions, sometimes featuring live projections of them during concerts.
John will be performing a solo show, Songs of Liberation, here at The Theatre Centre on May 16th at 7pm.
Archive
In 2025, liza paul reading at the second 24-hour poetry reading with Angelo Pileggi.
In 2024, the first 24-hour reading of Palestinian Poetry at The Theatre Centre took place with readers including:
12:00: Aislinn Rose, liza paul, ted witzel, Erum Khan, Bea Pizano, Trevor Schwellnus
15:00: Marjorie Chan, Indrit Kasapi
18:00: Michael Caldwell, Morgan Norwich
May 15, 2026
to May 15, 2026
Tickets are FREE
Franco Boni Theatre
In the Franco Boni Theatre
Friday, May 15, 00:00am midnight to May 15, 24:00pm midnight.
Free WiFi will be available and coffee and tea will be available for purchase at the café/bar.
Week of small actions toward hope
The Theatre Centre aims to be a space for living and breathing civic conversations that react to the real time events happening around the world and close to home.
We have dedicated the week of May 12 to political conversations and live art that raises big questions.
Marking the Nakba is one of 3 events this week!
This performance is 24 hours
November 25, 2025
From Artistic Director Aislinn Rose “We, and the artists and community who have found a home at 1115 Queen Street West, shall be forever grateful. Thank you Lindy.” Lindy Cowan and Chris Hatley being celebrated at the naming event for The Theatre Centre’s Franco Boni Theatre in 2016, and the closing of our capital campaign. I...
