WATANI International
14 March 2010
The Bibliotheca Alexandrina Arts Centre held its seventh Creative Forum for Independent Theatre Groups (Europe-Mediterranean) from 1 to 10 February. Twenty-three European and Mediterranean countries took part in this round of the forum: Algeria; Austria; the Czech Republic; Denmark; Egypt; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Holland; Hungary; Italy; Jordon; Lebanon; Morocco; Palestine; Poland; Slovakia; Spain; Syria; Switzerland; Sweden; and Tunisia.
This year’s edition presented 26 varied theatrical performances and included 19 training workshops as part of the Training Workshop Programme (Actors and Dancers), which also included the International Classroom for Theatre Students.
In addition, the Seventh Creative Forum featured a Publication Programme which included Braids, aimed at translating and publishing eight plays by Arab women playwrights from Egypt; Palestine; Morocco; Syria; and Tunisia. Book signing and book discussions were held on the fringe of the forum.
The forum saw a variety of shows by children and young people. Small Uncle, presented by the German Yung Oper, sought to acquaint children with the language of musical theatre through the story of a young boy who, lonely and without friends, finds a wonderful friend in a dog.
The Laura Kalauz and Martin Schick group presented Title, an Argentine-Swiss production which stressed that even misunderstandings and misconceptions may in themselves be means of communication.
Egyptian folk music and dancing was vividly presented by the Tanboura group.