“A home is the place where a person ‘feels at home,’ where nothing is foreign to him. Therefore, it is also the proper place to begin the history of being-in-the-world” (Dr. Boaz Neumann, historian). What makes a place a home? Where can a person feel at home? What happened to our joint home? The group of actors and creators of Otef HaNegev Theater, which also includes survivors and evacuees, developed this piece to explore the personal journeys of residents of the Gaza Envelope. Through WhatsApp messages, first-hand testimonies, and the actors’ personal experiences, a multi-layered stage piece is created that includes movement, video, and live music. An original production that was born out of that Saturday morning, and seeks to delve into the feelings and thoughts that have accompanied us since then: to take them in, observe them, and look for the way back home. Otef HaNegev Theater’s focus is on documentary theatre.

Amitai Yaish Ben Uzilio, artistic director of Otef HaNegev Theater. He is an Israeli actor, director, playwright, and acting teacher, and has been active in theatre, film, and television for more than three decades. He began his artistic journey with the Rehovot Youth Stage and graduated from Beit Zvi School of Performing Arts in 1991. He performed in numerous productions at leading Israeli theatres, including Habima National Theatre, Cameri Theatre of Tel Aviv, Jerusalem Khan Theatre, and Haifa Theatre. His notable stage roles include The Execution (directed by Hanoch Levin), Alice in Wonderland, Antigone, and Six Characters in Search of an Author. On screen, Yaish Ben Uzilio appeared in films such as Zohar, Close to Home, and Incitement. His television appearances include series such as Shemesh, Zaguri Empire, and The Good Cop. As a creator and director, he has written and staged Don Quixote, Uno Momento, Death in Slippers, and Home, A Place to Live – an original work exploring life and community resilience in Israel’s Gaza Envelope region, following the events of October 7, 2023.

Since January 2023, he is the artistic director of Otef HaNegev Theater, dedicated to promoting theatrical creation in Israel’s southern geographical periphery, and strengthening local communities through art. He taught acting at Bezalel Academy of Art and Design, Yoram Loewenstein Acting Studio, and Goodman Acting School of the Negev.