The Invaders’ Fear of Memories, a one-man show about the colonisation of Palestine, will be staged at the city’s An Taibhdhearc Theatre next Thursday, October 10, at 7pm.

Written and performed by Benjamin River, it’s directed by Linda Wise and is based on the life and diaries of Yousef Nachmani. He was a Russian Jew who, in 1907, fled the pogroms of Tsarist Russia and settled in Ottoman Palestine.

The Invaders’ Fear of Memories confronts the complex and harrowing realities of this young Zionist’s journey from oppressed to oppressor, according to the play’s creator, Benjamin River.

Nachmani, who was his great-grandfather, went on to become Director of the Jewish National Fund in Galilee and played a key role in the forced displacement of thousands of Palestinians.

This play, which is based on his life and his diaries, offers a view into the origins of settler-colonialism, ethnic cleansing and apartheid in modern Israel as it explores themes of loyalty, violence, ideology and grief.

The Invaders’ Fear of Memories spans four decades, with Benjamin moving between 12 different characters and performing songs in Arabic, Hebrew, Ukrainian, and Yiddish to offer a rich and multifaceted portrayal of this turbulent period.

It culminates in the tragic aftermath of the UN’s 1947 vote to partition Palestine and the creation of the State of Israel, amid widespread violence and persecution.

Benjamin, a theatre practitioner, psychotherapist and educator who was born in Scotland, has deep connections to Palestine. He lived and worked with community groups in Jenin refugee camp for several years and he is donating the proceeds of this play to Anar, a not-for-profit organisation in Bethlehem, which provides vital psychosocial supports to children affected by occupation and violence in Gaza and the West Bank.

The 75-minute play has already been performed across Europe, Australia, Mexico, and South Africa, with upcoming performances scheduled for Portugal and the USA.

Co-founder of New York’s Playback Theatre, Jo Salas, has described it as ‘an urgently needed piece of history and an extraordinary work of art’, saying ‘it could not be more relevant in today’s violent world’. Meanwhile, Professor of Theatre at Wesleyan University in the US, Katie Pearl, called it ‘an invitation to honour complexity and ambivalence while connecting to our shared humanity’.

Galway is one of just two locations in Ireland where The Invaders’ Fear of Memories is being performed, and the Chairperson of the Kinvara Palestine Solidarity Group, Annie Rosario, says it’s an important work.

“The history of this region is so often presented as unfathomably complex and so the story gets lost. But there can be no peace or justice without acknowledgment of the realities underpinning today’s headlines.”

There will be a panel discussion with invited speakers after the performance.

Tickets are €20 / €15 concessions. For more information and to book, go to www.antaibhdhearc.com.  Early booking is advised.

Pictured: Benjamin Rivers in the show which is based on his great-grandfather’s life.