As a full member of the White Kite Collective we act as the organisational partner for live events presented by a collective of artists respoonding to the genocide taking place in Palestine.
“A deeply moving and politically charged evening that confronts global injustices.”
— British Theatre Guide, reviewing “Stand with Palestinians: Messages from Gaza”
Introduction to White Kite Collective
White Kite Collective is a group of artists and culture workers that formed in urgent response to the ongoing Palestinian genocide. We bear witness and galvanise to action through testimony, literature and collective discussion.
White Kite Collective stands in solidarity with all peoples seeking liberation from global systems of oppression.
Focused on raising awareness and fostering solidarity, we curate unique and impactful events featuring a blend of, monologues, poetry, music, verbatim testimony of people on the ground, interviews/panels, visual art and sometimes comedy, that resonate deeply with audiences. Our goal is to amplify the voices of marginalised communities, (particularly the Palestinian people in this present time), provide a space to bear witness and offer safe spaces for healing, reflection, and activism via the arts. Our events consist of 2 halves. The first half which is a curated performance and the second half being a chaired collective post show audience sharing and discussion.
Since our founding, we have organised 20 plus impactful and sold out events since November 2023, with each contributing to causes close to our hearts, such as supporting Palestinian freedom and Sudanese liberation. Our events attract a growing, passionate audience, creating a movement that transcends traditional cultural boundaries and connects people to global issues through art.
Our Recent Events
“Stand with Palestinians: Messages from Gaza” is one of our signature series, which has toured venues like Bush Theatre, Arcola Theatre, Paines Plough at Roundabout, St. John’s Church in Waterloo, Key Theatre, Palestine House, Rich Mix, Tara Theatre, Queercircle, Bloomsbury Baptist Church to name a few. Each iteration of this series is carefully curated by established playwrights and is themed with a section of the 1st half dedicated to said theme. The theme is often based on existing and pressing news, with previous themes including sections dedicated to journalists, ecocide, the Nakba etc. Our events have served as both a fundraiser and a platform to share powerful first-hand testimonies from Palestinians under occupation. The events are deeply immersive and often focus on the experiences of Palestinians who continue living in unimaginable conditions. These events have not only sold out but also stirred audiences to action.
We have featured the writings of Mosab Abu Toha, Fady Joudah, Danez Smith, Rafeef Ziadah, Ghassan Kanafani, Mahmoud Darwish, Freedom Theatre, Ashtar Theatre, June Jordan, Hiba Abu Nada, Refaat Alareer to name but a few. Including first hand verbatim testimonies that artists in our collective are receiving from artists they are connected with on the ground in Gaza, as well as the testimonies of journalists, health care workers and others on the ground in Gaza too.
White Kite Collective have also collaborated with activist groups including Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Black Muslim Collective, London for Sudan, Madaniya, Camden Friends of Palestine as well as other arts based groups such as Make Freedom Ring an International Classical Musicians Collective. Our event together at St. John’s Church, Waterloo, was a collaboration that raised funds for Save Gaza’s Children. This event featured performances from renowned classical musicians such as Jayson Gillham interspersed with testimony and poetry readings by actors, all united together by a shared cause.
We have also hosted “Stand with Sudan: Messages from the People” at Rich Mix, collaborating with Sudanese diaspora groups to raise awareness and funds for the genocide in Sudan. This event highlighted the intersectionality of our mission, using art to amplify voices from oppressed communities.
Sold-Out Venues and Collaborations
White Kite Collective has hosted sold-out events at several prestigious venues across the UK, as mentioned above. Each of these events has drawn in hundreds of attendees, with our combined events reaching over 6,000 people so far.
Artists and Supporters
White Kite Collective has drawn significant support and participation from a wide range of notable artists, musicians, and cultural workers. High-profile figures include; Maxine Peake, Juliet Stevenson, Alfred Enoch, Susan Wokoma, Emma D’arcy, Bessie Carter, Alexei Sayle, Jamael Westman, Aiysha Hart and Khalid Abdalla, all known for their contributions to stage and screen and all of whom can advocate for us. We have a growing list of renowned actors wishing to partake in our events should our dates ever align. The collective has also worked with recent BAFTA-nominated actors Kosar Ali, and Bilal Hasna. Poets like Anthony Anaxagourou, musicians such as Jayson Gillham, the renowned Le Trio Joubran (Palestinian oud players), and Kareem Samara (Palestinian composer) have performed at our events. We have also had contributions from notable activists, doctors and journalists who have participated in our events such as Dr Ghassan Abu Sitta and Andrew Feinstein, academics and writers such as Barnaby Raine and Zena Agha as well as Health Workers for Palestine and the Palestinian Youth Movement, and journalists such as Matt Kennard and Hamza Yusuf from Declassified UK.
Audience Feedback and Testimonials
Our events have received glowing reviews, with the British Theatre Guide giving “Stand with Palestinians” five stars. They praised the event as “a deeply moving and politically charged evening that confronts global injustices”
In the words of our audience members:
“White Kite Collective doesn’t just stage events, they create movements. Their work leaves you informed, transformed, and inspired to take action.”
“It’s part protest and part therapy”
By offering a platform for oppressed voices, White Kite Collective continues to push the boundaries of cultural activism, using art as a weapon in the fight for justice.
Moving Forward
White Kite Collective is a not-for-profit organisation composed of dedicated volunteers and cultural workers. As part of our mission, every event we organise serves as a fundraiser for various charities, specifically those supporting grassroots efforts on the ground and providing vital aid to the Palestinian people. So far we have raised approximately £25,000 Beneficiaries include Freedom Theatre, Ashtar Theatre, Thilal (providing psychological support for children through the arts), Playgrounds for Palestine, Al Agha Water Project, Al Zuweida Water Project, Ghassan Abu Sitta Children’s fund, Sudanese Diaspora Network, We Are Not Numbers, Save Gaza’s Children, Anti Racist Movement Lebanon, International Media support to name a few.
As we plan for future events, White Kite Collective aims to continue expanding our reach, building on our growing reputation for creating immersive, impactful cultural experiences. We believe art can affect change. We invite collaboration with venues, artists, and organisations who share our vision for social justice.
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