Global Arab Network | Workshop at UAEU about “Richard III: An Arab Tragedy”

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Workshop at UAEU about “Richard III: An Arab Tragedy”

Global Arab Network - - Adam Turner

Sunday, 29 March 2009 17:56

The Kuwaiti director and playwright Sulayman Al Bassam conducted a workshop at the UAE University (UAEU) in Al Ain, as part of the activities accompanying the UAE performances of “Richard III: An Arab Tragedy”, which were organised by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH).

The workshop, attended by more than 30 students, also involved the original Shakespeare play which is being studied in the curriculum at Zayed University – Abu Dhabi campus - and at Al Ain University.

“I believe it was a wonderful and successful experience,” said Al Bassam. “Our aim was to raise the students’ awareness on the production and the different obstacles and stages it went through. We also addressed issues such as adapting the original text and mind set to the local setting, in addition to the uniqueness of the play which challenges one’s technical and creative skills.

During the workshop, Sulayman Al Bassam introduced the production ‘Richard III: An Arab Tragedy’, explaining how it came about and how he approached the adaptation of Shakespeare’s text, to make it relevant to the contemporary Gulf whilst also keeping the text alive. He illustrated his explanation with production photographs.

Monadhil Daood who plays two roles in the production - King Edward IV and Catesby – then used the scene of Gloucester (later King Richard III) seducing Lady Anne, to refer to the performances of mourning and of seduction - and how he approached this scene in order to maker it relevant for an Arab audience.

Al Bassam got the students at the workshop involved in the discussion by showing a scene performed by Al Pacino and Winona Ryder as an example of how they chose to play it, and then asking the students their thoughts on how they would play the scene, and on how they thought a woman might behave in such a situation. The workshop concluded by reading the scene aloud - Monadhil reading the part of Gloucester with the students all reading the part of Anne.

Abdullah Al Amri, Director of Arts and Culture at ADACH, said that similar workshops enhance the educational and cultural values ADACH is trying to spread through these events. “It contributes in creating a diversity we look for which goes hand in hand with our values and traditions. We believe that this also helps younger generations to get introduced locally to whatever is unique. It will help them decide their fields of interest. We are also looking forward to the talk Fayez Kazak, performing Richard III, will give to the Zayed University students on 29th March.”

The workshop was most effective in furthering the students’ knowledge and appreciation of not only traditional Shakespearean plays but also Sulayman’s new adaptations. "The students were totally engaged by the discussion that ensued from Sulyaman's questions and stimuli from the production," said Dr. James Mirrione, Professor of the English Literature Programme at UAEU.

“Richard III: An Arab Tragedy” will be performed in Abu Dhabi on 29th and 30th March 2009 in the main Auditorium of the Cultural Foundation. The play, originally commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company, is performed by the Sulayman Al Bassam Theatre.

Global Arab Network

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