Theatre

Shakespeare play staged in Kabul

A production of Love's Labour's Lost, set in Afghanistan and translated into the Dari language, has played to packed audiences in the capital city, Kabul.

The William Shakespeare play is one of the first to be staged in the country since the fall of the Taleban in 2001. "Theatre is much more popular than television," said Afghan playwright Aziz Elyas. "But during the Taleban's time it wasn't allowed. " The show, which ran for five nights, was sponsored by the British Council. "It's a story about the survival of romantic love in difficult circumstances, like in Muslim countries and especially Afghanistan," said its representative, Malcolm Jardine.

Theatre is making a comeback in the land-locked country according to Aziz, whose latest work History is Witness won first prize at this week's Kabul Theatre Summer Festival. "There's starting to be more and more shows being put on now," he said. "It's wonderful."

Strict taboo

The US Agency for International Development has even started using roving troupes of actors to stage plays in rural areas to educate people about forthcoming elections. The actresses in Love's Labour's Lost did not hide behind veils or burqas and were allowed to flirt with their co-stars - a strict taboo in the world beyond the playhouse.

The plot has been recast so it features Afghan characters and locations, instead of the French ones used in the Bard's original. "Shakespeare is so adaptable because he writes universal truths of human experience," said co-adaptor Steven Landrigan.

Kabul Theatre heralds return of Afghan art and culture

By Martin Bentham

WITH flames burning brightly behind him and smoke swirling overhead, Naqibullah Ariaan strode onto the stage of the war-ravaged Kabul Theatre last week to begin the first play to be performed in Afghanistan since the Taliban closed the theatres in 1996.

The audience sat gripped as he knelt and picked up handfuls of dust and soot, which he allowed to run through his fingers in a symbolic evocation of the damage that the Afghan nation has suffered.

It was a fitting beginning to a play depicting the horrors of life under the Taliban regime. It was given added poignancy by the anguished tones in which the actor spoke as he surveyed the destruction, both fictional and real, that lay in front of him. For Ariaan, who was imprisoned by the Taliban for two years because of his acting career, the emotion in his voice was heartfelt.

He had been an actor for seven years when the Taliban came to power and closed down Afghanistan's theatres, claiming that the depiction of the human form on stage was contrary to Islam. Soon after, when his role in an Afghan film was reported, he was sent to jail where he was beaten and tortured.

"When the Taliban came and shut the theatres I cried and felt hopeless," said Ariaan, moments after coming off stage to cheers and applause from an audience including government ministers, militiamen and street children.

"When they imprisoned me they beat me with whips on my feet so that I could not work. It was an awful time, but now I am very happy." The scene at the theatre as actors and actresses returned to work was mirrored elsewhere in the city last week as the first steps were taken towards reviving Afghanistan's cultural life. The most eye-catching was an announcement by the country's new government that the ancient Bamiyan Buddhas, which were destroyed by Taliban rockets last year, would be rebuilt.

Less noticed, but equally important, was a commitment by Sayed Raheen, Afghanistan's culture minister, to restore the country's film, music and media industries, all of which were shut down under the Taliban. "The Taliban were sick people who didn't want us to remember our past, so they destroyed our beautiful cultural heritage," said Mr Raheen.

"Afghan film, music, our photography department all went; television and the newspapers were gone and many exhibits in the National Museum in Kabul were destroyed. "This is what our enemies did to us. To revive all of these things is our priority. They are very important to this country."

Back at the Kabul Theatre, the derelict surroundings bore testimony to the difficult task that lies ahead. The theatre has no roof and no windows, and only concrete steps, pock-marked from bomb damage, remain where there were once theatre seats. Even the stage has huge holes in it.

Karima Qhamazada, 33, an actress in last week's play, was nevertheless happy. "During the Taliban we had to stay at home," said Qhamazada, who was wearing red lipstick, sunglasses and a black leather jacket; a stark contrast to the blue burqa which was compulsory only a few weeks ago. "Acting was my career before, and now that I can resume it I feel free again."

There was similar optimism at the now derelict studios of Afghan Film, the state film company, where several actors, including two who had just returned from exile in Pakistan, had gathered to prepare for re-opening. Sayed Miran Farhadi, one of the actors, said: "Our films helped our people to learn about our society. It is our great hope that we make them again." The most eloquent words of all, however, are on a banner outside the National Museum. It stated simply: "A nation stays alive when its culture stays alive."

In Kabul last week, at the theatre, the museum and the film studios, that spirit of hope was shining through.

Development Cooperation

Culture

Unfortunately culture is not high on the national and international agenda in dealing with fragile states such as Afghanistan. Though Afghanistan has an interesting history, years of war has destroyed important culture sites and traditions. The worst incident was in 2001 when the Taliban demolished the Buddha figures in Bamiyan. Norway's contribution as a donor for culture is modest; however our intention is to increase the efforts.

Preserving the country's heritage is an important task. The scope has to cover everything from historical sites to the different culture institutions and traditions. Competence needs to be re-established. Historical sites need to be restored and preserved for the future. Museums need to be upgraded. Public awareness need to be raised in order to understand why historical sites and traditions needs to be preserved for future generations. Looking to the future there are potentials for Islamic and culture tourism in Afghanistan as the country has sites of astonishing natural beauty and historical significance.

Afghanistan has two sites on the List of World Heritage in Danger:

The obstacles for preserving the country's heritage are many such as; lack of funding, knowledge and interest. Historical zones have been increasingly threatened by urbanization and necessary protection measurement is need for traditional/historical buildings, monuments and historical areas.

Afghanistan needs to reaffirm their cultural identity including the specificities of various ethnic groups. Rehabilitation of national traditions along with developing new techniques and skills is likewise important Afghanistan has a rich musical tradition. In addition cultural institutions and knowledge within theatre, film and literature needs support in order to make a cultural impact.

Norwegian support:

Budgets for culture are divided between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responsible for cultural exchange and framework agreements with organisations such as UNESCO, and the Embassy, responsible for strengthening cultural infrastructure and competence. Norway supports the following cultural programs and projects in Afghanistan:

Support for Conservation and Upgrading, Kabul Old City is a project supported by Norwegian Embassy for more than three years, based on yearly agreements. This is support of the Aga Khan Trust for Cultures' ongoing program for rehabilitation of historical sites, private houses and the surrounding areas in the old city of Kabul. Partly this is a conservation program and partly a program to improve living conditions for the inhabitants of the old city through infrastructure upgrading.

Support to the Gul-E Sork Music Festival in Mazar-I Sharif. Each year thousands of people travel to Masar-I Sharif as part of the Afghan New Year celebration (Nauroz) to attend this music festival. The festival brings traditional musicians and artist from different part of Afghanistan together. Norway has supported this event for three years, based on yearly agreements.

In 2007 support will be given to the Afghanistan Centre at Kabul University (HK – link inn AFG 2784 – 06/64 – vi forsøker å sende deg denne innen torsdag!). The Centre functions as a central information depository for an important collection of Afghanistan documents. Documents of historic, political, economic, social and cultural importance is collected and digitalised in databases in order to be avialable for all whom might be interested.

Support to Kabul Theatre as a cooperation between Kabul theatre and the Norwegian theatre –“ Den Nationale Scene” (Bergen). This is a one-year culture exchange program of personnel supported by a partnership agreement by “Fredskorpset” (funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Norway). In addition the Norwegian Embassy supports Kabul Theatre with necessary equipment in order improve the institutional capacity and performance by the theatre. Support will also cover a contest among afghan theatre drama writers in 2007.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is supporting the UNESCO program Emergency Campency and Capacity Building for Safeguarding Gawhar Shad Mausoleum in Heart, Afghanistan. The aim is to rehabilitate the mausoleum in Herat and in addition raise public awareness throughout Afghanistan of the value of its cultural heritage and the responsibilities of its protection and preservation.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been supporting the Afghan PEN-club and writers House in Kabul for several years. The Afghan PEN-club is cooperation closely with the Norwegian PEN-club.

Kabul Theatre Summer (16.06. – 02.10.2005)

Goethe-Institut Kabul

2nd Afghan National Theatre Forum (27.08. – 01.09.2005)

Dramatic Arts Centre in cooperation with Kabul University, Faculty of Fine Arts, Foundation for Culture and Civil Society and the Ministry of Information and Culture are organizing the Kabul Theatre Summer 2005 and the 2nd Afghan National Theatre Forum by the support of British Council, French Cultural Centre, Goethe-Institute (German Cultural Centre) and the U.S. Embassy. Both events are meant to stimulate and support the development of theatre in Afghanistan, which after a gap of recent years, caused by the displacement of so many artists and intellectuals, strictly requires a reinvestigation.

During Kabul Theatre Summer 2005 ten international theatre teams (from France, Germany, UK, USA and Estonia) will offer workshops and performances in various fields of theatre in order to train Afghan theatre makers and to strengthen intercultural exchange between Afghan and international artists.

Programme

During Kabul Theatre Summer 2005 several international theatre teams (from France, Germany, UK, USA, and Estonia) will offer workshops and performances in various fields of theatre in order to strengthen intercultural exchange between Afghan and international artists. The 2nd Afghan National Theatre Forum, an extension of last year's gathering, aims to continue the revival of theatre in Afghanistan.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to British Council, French Cultural Centre, Goethe-Institute, U.S. Embassy in Kabul and all of our many other supporters.

Kabul Theatre Summer 2005 and the 2nd Afghan National Theatre Forum are meant to stimulate and support the development of this important art in Afghanistan. Such gatherings will undoubtedly begin to close the gap of recent years, caused by the displacement of so many artists and intellectuals. Afghanistan has a century-long tradition of involvement in the theatre arts that, now, after the recent difficult period, strictly requires a reinvestigation. Workshops and gatherings of this sort will surely pave the road to the restoration of this form in our country. I express my cordial thanks to the organizers and international supporters.

Julia Afifi
Kabul Theatre Summer 2005: International Teams