Paul Calvert spoke to Tony Samaan from Mr Ok Theatre, a theatre company going into schools and reaching marginalised children in the Palestinian Territories.

Paul: What is Mr Ok Theatre?

Tony: Mr Ok Theatre is a theatre focused on children, reaching children, and bringing them happiness. The main theme and vision for us is to show children their value.

Paul: When and why did you start doing this?

Tony: I was working with the Bible Society many years ago, and then I moved to live in Bethlehem. It was difficult to reach Jerusalem again, because my wife didn't have permission.

I feel something special for children. I feel that they are lost and their value is often overlooked. Nobody cares to reach children and give them happiness. The thing that touched my heart to start doing that was the story in the Bible about Jesus, when the families bring their children to Jesus and the disciples said ''no, don't bring.'' Jesus was very angry because of what they were doing. He stopped what He was doing and accepted the children and hugged them and laid His hand on them. From that story I think that Jesus showed the children their value. I decided that I would like to do the same. I want to show the children their value, show them love and bless them as Jesus did.

Paul: What sort of themes do you cover in the theatre, what sort of stories do you do?

Tony: We've had many different themes, such as being clean on the outside and inside, not hiding but expressing your feelings. Also we try to teach them about love and forgiveness and how love is so important. How love can make their life better.

Paul: Are you welcomed into Government schools?

Tony: Yes, I actually work with the public school in Bethlehem, we visit it twice a week to try and bring them happiness and a good message for their lives.

Paul: How many schools do you visit altogether?

Tony: We go into about 35 different schools in Bethlehem, Ramallah and in the West Bank. During the year we reach thousands of children, we reach children outside of schools as well.

Paul: Do you travel abroad to do work?

Tony: Yes we went to visit the refugees in Jordan to do some shows and we have also done some shows for Syrian refugees. It's such a good experience just to make these children happy.

Paul: Do you do special projects for Christmas and Easter?