My Name Is Rachel Corrie

My Name Is Rachel Corrie at Playhouse Theatre, London, 2006.

My Name is Rachel Corrie is a play based on the diaries and emails of peace-activist Rachel Corrie, who was killed by an IDF soldier when she was aged 23.^[1] It was jointly edited by journalist Katharine Viner and actor Alan Rickman who also directed it.

Rachel Corrie (April 10, 1979 – March 16, 2003) was an American Evergreen State College student and member of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) who traveled to the Gaza Strip during the Second Intifada. She was killed in the Gaza Strip by a Caterpillar D9R armored bulldozer operated by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) while protecting the family home of local pharmacist Samir Nasrallah from destruction by the IDF.^[2][3][4][5]

Initial stagings and response

Alan Rickman first staged My Name is Rachel Corrie in April 2005 at the Royal Court Theatre, London, and the play went on to win the Theatregoers' Choice Awards for Best Director and Best New Play, as well as Best Solo Performance for actress Megan Dodds.^[6]

The play was scheduled to be transferred to the New York Theatre Workshop in March 2006. However, the New York theatre decided that, because of its political content, the play was to be "postponed indefinitely", after the artistic director polled numerous Jewish groups to get their reaction to the play.^[7] Rickman and Viner denounced the decision and withdrew the show.^[8][9]

Rickman said: "I can only guess at the pressures of funding an independent theatre company in New York, but calling this production "postponed" does not disguise the fact that it has been cancelled. This is censorship born out of fear, and the New York Theatre Workshop, the Royal Court, New York audiences - all of us are the losers."^[10]

The play ran as a commercial production at the Minetta Lane Theatre in Greenwich Village in the fall of 2006.^[11]

Reviews

Cover of book version of play.

The play received the following review from Michael Billington in April 2005:

...Corrie went to Gaza specifically to support Palestinians whose homes were being demolished and makes no attempt to hide her partiality.

And, while she distinguishes between Jewish people and Israeli politicians, she is appalled by what she sees: the checkpoints that prevent people getting to jobs and places of education, the casual destruction of wells, the children who grow up with tank-shell holes in their walls. Theatre has no obligation to give a complete picture. Its only duty is to be honest. And what you get here is a stunning account of one woman's passionate response to a particular situation. And the passion comes blazing through in Corrie's eloquent reaction to her father's inquiry about Palestinian violence. As she says, if we lived where tanks and soldiers and bulldozers could destroy our homes at any moment and where our lives were completely strangled, wouldn't we defend ourselves as best we could? The danger of right-on propaganda is avoided by the specificity of Rickman's Theatre Upstairs production. Above all, this is a portrait of a woman....^[12]

Reviewing a performance in Manhattan in 2015, a reviewer wrote:

"At the performance I reviewed, Hemming met and far exceeded the demands, as evidenced by the stunning silence and tears which were wiped away by the end of the 90 minute show (including my own). Hemmings brings a vital urgency to a girl who "still really wants to dance around to Pat Benatar and have boyfriends and make comics for my co-workers" but also just wants the injustices to stop. ...Corrie is no longer with us, but her enduring words remind us of the possibility for change and that those who seek it with passion and sincerity will have not lived their lives — whatever the length — in vain." ^[13]

Other stagings

My Name is Rachel Corrie played at the West End's Playhouse Theatre in London from March through May 2006. In July 2006 Josephine Taylor took over the role and the show played the Galway Arts Festival, before moving to the Edinburgh Fringe in August. It opened at the Minetta Lane Theatre in New York in October 2006, with Megan Dodds returning as Corrie, and closed on December 17, 2006.^[14]

The recent production was reviewed by Peter Birnie of the Vancouver Sun January 29, 2008:

An excellent piece of polemic, My Name is Rachel Corrie is a powerful slap at the state of Israel. Weighing the show simply on its merits as left-wing agitprop, this is a compelling production. The play asks us to condemn Israel's heavy-handed treatment of Palestinians, and does so with compelling intelligence. It closes with a particularly powerful piece of video, showing an adolescent Rachel Corrie speaking with youthful enthusiasm about helping shape a better world.

Fine. Okay. But can we please see a companion piece of theatre about a certain desert-kingdom royal family and its deep complicity in fomenting terrorism against, among many others, Israel and the world's Jewish communities? Let's call it My Name is Osama bin Laden.^[15]

Variety reports:

Jack Rose, from the CanStage board – while admitting he has neither read nor seen the script – said that "my view was it would provoke a negative reaction in the Jewish community." And philanthropist Bluma Appel, after whom CanStage's flagship theater is named, concurred. "I told them I would react very badly to a play that was offensive to Jews."^[16]

The Seattle Repertory Theatre ran My Name is Rachel Corrie from March 15 to May 6, 2007, directed by Braden Abraham, featuring Marya Sea Kaminski as Corrie. This showing drew publicity and spawned the creation of a website, Rachel Corrie Facts, intended to provide information and context to balance to what many perceive as a "one-sided, anti-Israel diatribe."^[17]

The Australian premiere of My Name is Rachel Corrie opened on May 14, 2008 at Downstairs Belvoir St Theatre. It had an extended season and was nominated for Best Performer (Belinda Bromilow), Best Direction (Shannon Murphy) and Best Independent Production (Bareboards Production) at the Sydney Theatre Critics Awards for 2008, winning the latter. The production was also featured on the SBS television program Dateline.

The Kitchen & Roundhouse Theatre in Silver Spring, Maryland, staged a one-time performance on July 21, 2007. It was directed by Lise Bruneau and featured Mindy Woodhead as Rachel.^[18]

My Name Is Rachel Corrie was one of the featured plays of the Contemporary American Theater Festival in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, shown from July 6–29, 2007. Ed Herendeen was the director, and Anne Marie Nest played Corrie.

Purple Bench Productions produced the play in Chicago September 12 - October 5, 2008. Jessie Fisher portrayed Corrie and it was directed by Emmy Kreilkamp.^[19]

Some performances have featured post-show discussions.^[20]

The New Repertory Theatre^[21] in Watertown, Massachusetts staged My Name is Rachel Corrie on March 8 April 5, 2008. Directed by David R. Gammons, featuring Stacy Fischer as Rachel Corrie. The production was played in rep with Pieces by Israeli-American Zohar Tirosh as part of a larger project entitled Their Voices Will Be Heard: Artists Respond to the Israeli/Palestinian Situation, which also included readings of plays by Nitzan Halperin, Meron Langsner (who at the time was New Rep's NNPN playwright in residence), and Larry Loebell, as well as film screenings and academic panels. New Rep published a pamphlet of critical responses entitled Supporting Voices/Dissenting Voices which was co-edited by Meron Langsner and M. Bevin O'Garra to accompany the theatrical events.

A reading of the play took place in Dublin, Ireland, on March 15, 2008, at the Project Arts Centre. The reading was presented by Amnesty International Irish Section and Fishamble theatre company. Actress Megan Riordan performed the reading.

In 2007, the play was staged in Lima, Peru, at La Plaza ISIL theater under the direction of Nishme Sumar and featuring Gisela Ponce De Leon as Corrie. This was the first performance of the play in a Spanish-speaking country.^[22]

Theatre Yes in Edmonton, Alberta, staged My Name is Rachel Corrie March 28 - April 12, 2008.

Theatre PANIK^[23] staged the play at Tarragon Theatre in Toronto, opening May 29, 2008 with Bethany Jillard performing the role. All four local daily papers gave the play and the actress enthusiastic reviews, but the theatre critic Lynn Slotkin in CBC Toronto radio show Here and Now^[24] was highly critical of every aspect of the play.

The Kraine Theater in Manhattan staged the show under the direction of Ashley Marinaccio and Robert Gonyo of Co-Op Theatre East . The show was unique in that there were two actors portraying Rachel Corrie — Theresa Christine and Stephanie Shafir as the young Rachel Corrie.^[25]

In October, 2015 the play was staged at the Corpus Playroom, Cambridge, UK. Rachel Corrie was portrayed by Ella Duffy, the daughter of Carol Ann Duffy. The show received critical acclaim, described as "a brilliant, barnstorming performance".^[26][27]

The play was staged in Winnipeg, Canada at the Irish Association of Manitoba, as part of the 2016 MayWorks Festival of Labour and the Arts. The staging featured the role of Corrie and the other figures in her life divided between five actors. The production did consultation and post-show talkbacks with Independent Jewish Voices.^[28]

Confirmed performances

United States

• Des Moines Onstage, Iowa, January 10–12, 2014. <http://www.desmoinesonstage.org>
• Second Thought Theatre, Dallas, Texas, March 16–30, 2013. <http://secondthoughttheatre.com/>
• University of Nebraska-Lincoln. April 27, 2010. Independent student project.
• Stanford University Department of Drama and Stanford Theatre Activist Mobilization Project (STAMP), Stanford, California, November 19, 20, 21, 2009
• Oregon State University Theatre, Corvallis, Oregon 2009
• Ithaca Actor's Workshop, Ithaca, New York 2011
• New York Theatre Workshop, New York March 2006 - Cancelled.^{[29][30][31][32][33][34]}
• Minetta Lane Theatre/Royal Court, New York, New York October 15 - December 17, 2006^[35][36][37] Actress Megan Dodds^{[38][39][40][41][42][43]}
• Orpheum Theatre, Madison, Wisconsin March 7, 8, 14, 15, 2007^[44]
• Seattle Repertory Theatre, Seattle, Washington March 15, 2007 - May 6, 2007 New Repertory Theatre (With a weekend of performances at Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington)^{[45][46][47][48]}
• Contemporary American Theater Festival, Shepherdstown, West Virginia July 6–29, 2007^{[49][50][51][52][53][54]}
• The Kitchen & Roundhouse Theatre, Silver Spring, Maryland July 21, 2007 1 night production^[55]
• Oregon Stage Works Ashland, Oregon August 2007^{[56][57][58][59][60]}
• Mosaic Theatre Plantation, Florida, August 2007^[61] - CANCELLED "because of protests (to the school, his board and himself) from Jewish groups and individuals". Later "In the interest of protecting the organization, I had to pull the plug" creator of the theatre Richard Jay Simon said.
• Cyrano's Theatre Company Anchorage, Alaska August 22, 2007 – staged reading "Finally, in a one-night-only engagement, Cyranos Theatre hosted the first of their staged readings of the season with My Name Is Rachel Corrie. Suehyla El-Attar performed the reading."^[62]
• Synchronicity Performance Group, Atlanta, Georgia September 7 - October 7, 2007 actress Courtney Patterson^[63][64][65]
• Countdown to Zero, Denver, Colorado Denver: September 28 - November 17, 2007,^[66] Lincoln, Nebraska: January 25, 2008 Omaha, Nebraska: January 26, 2008 Des Moines, IA: January 27, 2008 (2 shows) Albuquerque, New Mexico: February 16 & 17, 2008 Saturday, April 12 : Estherville, IA Sunday, April 13 : Lincoln, NE Monday, April 14 : AM - Lincoln High School, NE Monday, April 14 : PM - Omaha, NE Tuesday, April 15 : Cedar Falls, IA Thursday, April 17 : Columbia, MO Sunday, April 20 : Bridgeiew, IL Tuesday, April 22 : Fort Wayne, IN Thursday, April 24 : Goshen, IN Friday, April 25 : Tiffin, OH Sunday, April 27 : Columbus, OH Saturday, May 3 : Las Vegas, NV^{[67][68][69][70][71][72][73][74][75]}
• Van Duzer Theatre, Humboldt State University, Arcata, California October 18–27, 2007^[76]
• Organic Theater Company, Atlanta, Georgia October 4 - November 4, 2007^[77][78]
• Viterbo University Theatre Department, Lacrosse, Wisconsin January 31- February 2, 2008^[79]
• The Subversive Theatre Collective, Main Street Cabaret, Downtown Buffalo, New York March 7–29, 2008, produced in collaboration with the Buffalo United Artists' Theatre actress Katie White^[80] nominated Artie Buffalo local theater award 2008 as outstanding actress in a play^{[81][82][83][84][85]}
• New Repertory Theatre in Arsenal Center for the Arts, Watertown, Massachusetts March 8–30, 2008^[86] Director David R. Gammons for New England premiere in Downstage at New Repertory Theatre^[87]
• Ix Project Event Building, Charlottesville, Virginia May 7–9, 2009, director Sherri Smith produced by special arrangement with The Dramatic Publishing Company of Woodstock, Illinois and locally sponsored by The Charlottesville Center for Peace and Justice, The Ix Project, Lander Creative, Silver Cat Works, Al Dente Ristorante and The Virginia Organizing Project^[88][89]
• Beyond the Proscenium Productions (BPP), 3 Penny Playhouse, Sacramento, California May 15–30, 2009 Director: Karen Nylund^{[90][91][92][93][94][95]}
• Theatre13^[96]
• Purple Bench Productions at Artistic Home^[19]
• FireHouse Theater June 5 & 6 2009^[97]
• THREE GOOD FRIENDS presents My Name is Rachel Corrie, Taken from the writings of Rachel Corrie, Edited by Alan Rickman and Katharine Viner. PERFORMANCES: September 24 to October 30, Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.,Sunday Matinees at 2:00 p.m. Performances at:The Stark Street Theater, 600 SE Stark Street Portland, OR 97214. Produced in conjunction with The Northwest Classical Theatre Company. The NWCTC is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.^[98]
• John DiDonna and Seth Kubersky present The Empty Spaces Theatre Co.'s exploration of the controversial play by Alan Rickman and Katharine Viner. "My name is RACHEL CORRIE" taken from the writings and journals of Rachel Corrie, Running at The Lowndes Shakespeare Center - Studio B Lock Haven Park, Orlando, for 5 performances February 24–28, 2011.
• Performed May 19–22, 2011 at Burning Coal Theater in Raleigh, North Carolina. Directed by Tea Alagic with Alice Turner playing as Rachel.
• Shot in the Dark productions. Performed October 12–20, 2012 at the Evelyn Larson Theatre in Sioux City, IA.^[99]
• Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, Connecticut. September 6-8th, 2013.

Canada

• CanStage Theatre, Canadian Stage Company, Toronto 2007/08 Season CANCELLED AFTER PLAYED^[100][101]
• Sage Theatre,^[102] Canada November 15–24, 2007^{[103][104][105][106][107]} Director Ian Prinsloo,^[108] In 2008, Adrienne Smook^[109] nominated as Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Drama category and Ian Martens^[110] nominated as Outstanding Lighting Design category in Betty Mitchell Awards^{[111][112][113]}
• Teesri Duniya, Montreal, Canada December 2–22, 2007^{[107][114][115][116]}
• Neworld Theatre, Vancouver, Canada January 23 - February 9, 2008^{[107][114][116][117]}
• Theatre Panik, Toronto, Canada May 29 - June 22, 2008^{[107][116][118]}
• Western Edge Theatre , Nanaimo, BC. October 2008. Re-staged for Gabriola Theatre Festival August 22, 2009. Planned tour of Vancouver Island September 2009.
• Dariusz Entertainment, London, Ontario, Canada. January 15–24, 2009. Directed by Dariusz Korbiel and starring Laura Burns in the title role. This critically acclaimed production earned 4 Brickenden Award nominations (including Direction, Lead Actress, Sound) and won Outstanding Production of the Year.
• Forest Productions produced the play at the Rabbittown Theatre in St. John's, Newfoundland in February 2010, featuring Mikaela Dyke in the title role.
• Hart House Theatre, Toronto, Ontario in October 2012
• Theatre Yes, Edmonton, Alberta March 28 - April 12, 2008,^{[119][120][121]} In 2008 Actress Lora Brovold^[122][123] nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role, Costume Designer Brian Bast^[124] nominated for Outstanding Set Design, Director Heather Inglis nominated for Outstanding Director in Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Awards where the play nominated as Outstanding Independent Production.^[125]
• Winnipeg, Manitoba, May 2016. As part of the 2016 MayWorks Festival of Labour and the Arts. Staged at the Irish Association of Manitoba.

International

• Royal Court Theatre, London, England Premiered April 4, 2005 through April 30, 2005^[126] Ran again October 11–29, 2005^[127][128]
• West End's Playhouse Theatre, London, England March 29 - May 7, 2006^{[129][130][131][132]}
• Galway Arts Festival/Edinburgh Festival Fringe Ireland 24–30 July 2006,^[133] August 2006^{[134][135][136][137]}
• Teatro La Plaza, Lima, Peru Ran until 31 October 2007; plans to tour until summer ‘08^[138][139]
• Noord Nederlands Toneel, Netherlands Production opened 11 October 2007^[140]
• Fournos Theatre, Athens, Greece Production opened on 12 October 2007^[141]
• Gothenburg City Theatre, Sweden Production opened on 9 November 2007^[142][143]
• Stockholm City Theatre, Sweden Production opened on 8 December 2007^[144]
• Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney, Australia Production opened 14 May 2008^[145]
• Radio broadcast, Germany by Deutschlandfunk of Deutschlandradio, Germany August 4, 2008^[146] or 8 April 2008
• Buenos Aires, Argentina, April to November 2009, directed by Agustín Rafael Martínez. With Constanza Peterlini as Rachel Corrie, music of Emanuel Brusa and projections of Malena Bystrowicz. My Name is Rachel Corrie Argentina
• Haifa, Israel, performed in Arabic by actress Lana Zreik^{[147][148][149]}
• Reykjavík City Theater (Borgarleikhusid. Reykjavík, Iceland. March 18, 2009 Ég heiti Rachel Corrie ("My name is Rachel Corrie"). Actress Þóra Karitas Árnadóttir played Rachel. ^[150]
• Theatre of Neos Kosmos,^[151] Athens, Greek Production opened on 25 January 2010
• The 2010 Adelaide Fringe Festival in South Australia was host to a 'hit' production of the play starring Hannah Norris.^[152] Produced and directed by Daniel Clarke, it went to Melbourne for a 2-week season at CBD venue fortyfive downstairs in November 2010, with cast and crew all working unwaged.^[153]
• 2010 Queensland premiere in Brisbane, Australia for La Boite Theatre Indie. 27th Oct - 14th of Nov. Featuring Julia Billington, directed by Shane Anthony and produced by Bella Shanley Productions. Link to show blog www.mynameisrachelcorrie.wordpress.com
• Rosemary Branch Theatre, Angel, London, 2011.

References

External links

• Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace and Justice International Productions of "My Name is Rachel Corrie" Play Page
• Rachel Corrie Memorial Website
• "Democracy Now" discussion on the cancellation/postponement of My Name is Rachel Corrie by the NYTW
• The Death of Rachel Corrie. Mother Jones
• The Subversive Theatre Collective
• Rachel Corrie play opens in Haifa
• Royal Court Theatre "My Name is Rachel Corrie" Education Resources
• Surely Americans will not put up with this censorship, Katharine Viner The Guardian
• SBS Dateline feature on the Australian Premiere