Vicky Featherstone and Maxine Peake voice support for Palestine's Freedom Theatre

It demands "the immediate release" of detained Freedom Theatre members; an end to "targeted attacks on cultural sites"; as well as an "immediate and permanent" ceasefire in the territory. 

The organisation made history in 2015 by bringing the biggest touring production ever performed in Britain by a Palestinian theatre company to the UK, with the devised play The Siege. The company visited venues including the Lowry in Manchester, the Tron in Glasgow and London’s Battersea Arts Centre.

The letter is the latest expression of support for the Palestinian arts organisation, following last week’s statements by venues including London’s Royal Court. In recent weeks, increased international scrutiny has focused on Israel’s use of "administrative detention" – a security law that allows the state to imprison people indefinitely without charge.

Although Israeli officials maintain the law is necessary to combat terrorism, others insist it violates the international law on human rights.

In a statement posted to Twitter/X on December 15, the Royal Court shared a message of solidarity with the theatre, saying: "We stand against the killing and silencing of artists and the destruction that cultural sites in Gaza and the West Bank have suffered in this war."

Meanwhile, theatre company Complicité called Freedom Theatre "a beacon for the power of art as a form of resistance and resilience".

East London’s Arcola Theatre will present an evening of accounts from Gaza, in response to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.

The theatre will stage Stand With Palestinians: Messages from Gaza on December 19.