Theater in the Arab World

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

Arab contributions to performance traditions have been ignored, and at times purposefully erased, from the global history of theatre. Traditionally, the Western world was viewed as the inheritors of the rich Greek dramaturgical tradition, while the Islamic world—due to its supposed aversion to modernity—was ill-suited to the complexities of performance arts. This course, arguing against this pervasive narrative, explores the rich histories, traditions, forms, and styles of theatre in the Arab world. The readings will cover the earliest manifestations of performance in the ta’ziya tradition, leading up to modern-day productions that seek to challenge sociopolitical oppression and despotism prevalent in the region. Throughout the semester, we will read plays from Syria, Egypt, and North Africa, with a special focus on performances that deal with social and political issues in the Arab world. These will be interrogated through the lens of critical theories of performance and semiotics by both Western and Arab scholars. We will endeavour to understand how the Arab identity is negotiated and constructed in performance, and how Arabs use the poetics of theatre as a tool to work through their post-colonial history and implement political change in their complex present moment.