In 2013, Iymen Chehade showed the documentary Five Broken Cameras in his course at Columbia College on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Shortly after that viewing, one of his courses was removed by the college’s administration.

Chehade and his supporters launched a campaign for academic freedom called ‘Respect Academic Freedom: Palestine is No Exception’ (RAFPINE) and with the help of thousands of supporters, Chehade’s course was restored.

Inspired by the support of thousands of people around the world, Chehade, his students, and colleagues in the social justice community, wanted to keep building on the conversation and thus Uprising Theater was born.

UPRISING THEATER WILL BE THE FIRST OF ITS KIND; A SPACE WHERE ART WILL AMPLIFY THE STRUGGLES FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE. A SPACE WHERE FREEDOM OF THOUGHT AND EXPRESSION WILL FLOURISH.

Using theater as a means to bring social justice issues to light that currently do not have a voice, Uprising Theater will build on Iymen's experience as an educator, playwright as well as an actor. Uprising Theater will also be the first theater in the country that will prioritize plays that present the Palestinian experience to the public.

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