On Thursday, 21 November 2019, Amer Hlehel performed his latest play entitled al-Houteh on the stage of the A.M. Qattan Foundation in Ramallah.
The play revolves around the character of Basil, who at age of 15 decides to do what has never been done before; to descend into a pit al-houteh, where the inhabitants of the village believed a ghoula dwells.
The events are complicated by revolution and war, leading to warring and fighting brigades and factions, in the midst of which, Basil’s brother disappears.
As Basil is searching for his brother, he is captured by an enemy faction, and from this moment on, Basil is thrown on a Sisyphean journey, moving from one faction to another, fighting, firing and making bombs, and getting involved in whatever the war commands on those who cannot escape it.
During his journey determined by the logic of war, Basil loses everything he ever had; people, family, friends, lover and everything he knew before the war.
It is noteworthy that Amer Hlehel was awarded the AMQF grant for performing arts for 2019, to produce al-Houteh. The grant aims to develop the sector of performing arts by providing funds to produce and promote new performance art projects that are able to reach different audiences in Palestine and beyond.