2023-11-24 17:39:00
“Situation No. 20”: The blocked horizons of big dreams
“Scenario” Association practices the participatory approach to performing arts and education with abandoned communities. In order to activate change in these communities, it presents theatrical performances in which young non-professional actors and actresses from Lebanon, Syria and Jordan participate. The lack of life services in these countries prompts a “scenario” to establish this type of direct interaction with theatre. She chooses models from those societies to express her concerns and concerns on stage.
The play “Situation No. 20”, as part of the annual artistic programming of “Scenario”, is scheduled to be shown in 4 concerts distributed across Lebanese regions. It will open it at the Oriental College in the city of Zahle in the Bekaa Valley on November 24, and then transfer it on December 1 to the Monot Theater in Beirut. She will land in two concerts on 3 and 8 in Bourj Hammoud and “Beit El Fan” in Tripoli.
Shows start on November 24th in Zahle, Bekaa (Association photos)
Young men and women perform a play whose theme they created and which they practiced throughout the summer. They are part of the “Theatrical Curriculum Scenario” program, which is funded by the “Drosos” Foundation. Over a period of 4 years, “Scenario” trains regarding 100 young men and women to teach them the art of theater using the aforementioned program.
“Stop No. 20” deals with a bus station whose passengers are eagerly awaiting its arrival. They made their plans in advance for the destination of the trip they wanted to take. Due to an emergency, the buses do not arrive. Passengers gather in one place to share their hopes and dreams for the future.
The duration of the show does not exceed 60 minutes, with regarding 20 people participating, directed by Rouwaida Al-Ghali. A theatrical work that combines reality and imagination, directed by Al-Ghali within modest decorations, in which it relies on expressive acting as part of a human journey that touches the dreams of young people. It also highlights the importance of self-realization.
A group of young men and women participating in the play (association photos)
She explains to Asharq Al-Awsat: “It is a realistic theatrical game that mixes human situations that we learn regarding throughout the show, which is sometimes shrouded in some mystery. The pursuit of a dream is translated into an artistic scene in which personal decisions are intertwined. It also takes us to the challenges of life that today’s youth face, as they overcome them armed with hope and a solid will despite disappointment.”
According to the story, many themes emerge from the play, generated by its exciting plot. The place in which they are forcibly imprisoned, waiting for a change, provides them with a space to experience the same circumstances, and they sometimes divide in opinion, such that some of them adhere to the journey, while others hesitate in light of the difficulties they may encounter.
Scenography, music, and emotional acting are present in this work. All participants are non-professional actors, improvising and creating scenes, each in their own creative style.
Ruwayda Al-Ghali explains the situations the group goes through during the trip: “In (Stop No. 20) we will see the destinations that the young people intend to reach, and they represent their dreams. One of them carries a suitcase for safety, while another takes part in the journey to find work. Among the stories: One regarding an oud player who suffered from bullying as a child. We also learn the story of 3 young men who embark on a journey in pursuit of fame, while a pregnant woman travels all this distance to see the sea of the city of Tripoli.
The play is directed by Rouwaida Al-Ghali (Association photos)
At the end of the play, we are presented with a surprise regarding the group’s way out of the impasse: a bus with the words “To all destinations” lands, so you climb on it because it is suitable for everyone.
From the heart of storms, dust, and mountain collapses, the group senses the end of their suffering. The director likens the work to “reality television,” and continues: “At the end of the show, the viewer will realize what exposes the game taking place on stage. But it will also touch on the importance of the fact that seeing a small dose makes a difference.”
Al-Ghali concludes by talking regarding her experience in “Situation No. 20”: “I enjoyed it, as in other experiences I had previously had with (Scenario). As a university professor who interacts directly with the younger generation of my students, Scenario’s experiences take me to broader spaces. Each group I cooperate with has its own uniqueness, which adds to my career as an acting coach. What motivates me to continue giving.”
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