My Name Is Rachel Corrie facts for kids
My Name is Rachel Corrie is a play that tells the story of a young American woman named Rachel Corrie. The play is based on her own diaries and emails. These writings were put together by famous actor and director Alan Rickman and journalist Katharine Viner. Rachel Corrie was a student and a peace activist who traveled to the Gaza Strip to help people. She sadly died while protesting against homes being destroyed. The play was first shown in London, England, at the Royal Court Theatre, in April 2005.
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The Play "My Name is Rachel Corrie"
This play is a special kind of theatre called a docudrama. This means it uses real documents, like Rachel's own words, to tell a true story. It is usually performed by just one actor, who plays Rachel Corrie and reads her actual writings. This helps the audience understand her thoughts and feelings directly. The play helps people learn about Rachel's life and the reasons she chose to become an activist.
Who Was Rachel Corrie?
Rachel Corrie was an American student born in 1979. She cared a lot about human rights and peace. She decided to travel to the Gaza Strip in 2003 to join a group of international activists. Their goal was to peacefully protest against the destruction of Palestinian homes. Rachel believed it was important to stand up for people's rights and try to prevent harm.
Creating the Play
After Rachel Corrie's death, her diaries and emails were shared with Alan Rickman. He was a well-known actor and director. He worked with journalist Katharine Viner to carefully select and arrange Rachel's writings. They wanted to create a play that would truly represent Rachel's voice and her experiences. Alan Rickman also directed the first performance of the play.
Where Was the Play First Shown?
The play My Name is Rachel Corrie had its first performance in London, England. It opened at the Royal Court Theatre in April 2005. The Royal Court Theatre is famous for showing new and important plays. The play later traveled to other cities around the world, allowing many people to hear Rachel's story.