May 2007 – April – 2008
The project, that is supported by the Prince Claus Fund, involves the translation and publication for the first time in Arabic of the play “Berceuse”. The project consists of the production and dissemination of a play that is radically different in the Arabic context. It is a play that represents a continuation of the project "La Contagion Beckett" (The Becket contagion), directed by the Moroccan Director Youssef RAIHANI since 2006, when he staged two short plays by Beckett : " la dernière bande " and "Eh, Joe". This project intends to realize the “arabization” of Beckett’s theatre, a sort of “sensitivisation” and determination of a theatre with universal values little known in the Arabic world. The project "La Contagion Beckett" will continue until the year 2014 (25 years after Beckett’s death). During these 8 years ( 2006/2014), Youssef RAIHANI will produce and disseminate all the short plays by Beckett, not known to have been played in Arabic before. The play " Berceuse" ( Rockaby) is considered one of Beckett’s lesser known plays. It will be the first time that it will be played in Arabic, creating a bilingual spectacle of 40 minutes.
The play will be performed by ZAHRA ( Fatym zahra SGHIR), a professional Moroccan actress, laureate of L'Ecole Nationale des Beaux Arts de Tétouan, who also has a teaching certificate in French literature (theater). The stage design will be realized by renown artist Abdelkrim OUAZZANI, director of L'Institut National des Beaux Arts. The Project " Berceuse" will be realized in the time frame of one year from the 17th of May 2007 to the 13the of April 2008). The play will tour diverse Moroccan cities (Tétouan, Tanger, Martil, Larrache, Chefchaoun, Fés, Meknès, Rabat, Casablanca, Marrackech et Agadir), and also other Arabic cities (Alexandria and Cairo). The play aims at introducing the Arab and wider public to these types of play. The premier takes place in La Maison de la Culture de Tétouan on the 17th of May, 2007, on the occasion of the opening ceremony of the 4ème Festival International de la Bande Déssinée, organized by L'Institut National des Beaux Arts in collaboration with the French/Belgian community.
The activities (from May 2007 to April 2008) involve more than 20 representations in cities where the opportunities to see theatre are scarce such as Martil, Chefchaoun et Larrache, the participation in Arabic festivals such as Festival Théâtre Experimental in Caire, Festival d'Alexendrie des Troupes Independantes, and Festival de la Bande dessinée de Tétouan, the publication of the Arabic translation of "Berceuse", for the Collection d'Automne, and the collaboration of Moroccan artists (these include Youssef Raihani, playwriter and director; Fatym Zahra Sghir (Zahra) actress; Dridd Iguella, technician; Abdeslam Sahraoui, actor and writer; Mustapha Chorfi, and Adel Harras, administrator). The play addresses female loneliness in traditionalist societies: an old woman dressed in a black evening dress rocks herself in a rocking chair while listening to her own recorded voice. The story tells of the character's seeking for another 'a little like' herself, in the outside world. The search ends as all the blinds are drawn and complete darkness descends (written in 1980).
The project is also funded by the Young Arab theatre Fund.
ZAHRA during repetitions of 'Berceuse'
Create a new Arabic theatre, that will focus on the solutions of human problems; encourage cultural and civil exchanges; Reject all forms of fundamentalism and choose for tolerance and democracy; insert experimentation in the Arab theatre, and create innovative marginal theatre forms. These objectives are met by producing and disseminating plays and animation of workshops, by the publications on theater Collection Automne, and by hosting events and festivals. Collaborating organisations are Institut National des Beaux-Arts de Tétouan, Institut Français de Tétouan and Ministère de la Culture.
BP: 536 poste principale- Tétouan/ Maroc Tel: +212.66.06.76.45 / fax: +212.39.96.42.92
tofoq@yahoo.fr / raihaniy@yahoo.fr / claire_sma@yahoo.fr
Despite having a growing following, theatre is still to be developed in Morocco. Only 3% of Moroccans see a play during a year. The Ministry of Culture has just enough of a budget for 365 theatre evenings a year, meaning one play per evening in the entire kingdom of Morocco. Theatre Horizon advocates for fulfilling a growing need for a new theatre that opts for cultural exchange, opening up towards others and referring to tolerance. It is estimated that 95% of Moroccans have never seen a play by Beckett.
