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Marking the Nakba

24 hours of palestinian poetry on top of an illustration of a dimly lit franco boni theatre with a keffiyeh pattern projected on the floor.
 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.

Archive

liza paul speaking at a microphone and music stand in front of three rows of blue printed fabric with palestinian imagery on them. angelo sits in a chair watching liza from behind.

In 2025, liza paul reading at the second 24-hour poetry reading with Angelo Pileggi. 

artwork of a woman surrounded by olive trees is suspended from the ceiling. A reader is on stage, reading poems

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

Venue

Franco Boni Theatre

Performance Dates

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

Residency_adam
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March 16, 2026
“Performing esu in 2026 is a ritual in listening to my artistic responsibility and accountability“ Across the street from The Theatre Centre in Watah Studio Theatre (32 Lisgar Street), Watah Theatre‘s esu crossing the middle passage has just concluded a run. Our marketing and communications Intern, Eleanor Yuneun Park, watched and interviewed dr. d’bi.young anitafrika about...
Lindy smiling at the naming event to close the capital campaign
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...