Libya celebrates theater with week-long Benghazi festival

(11 Aug 2023)
LIBYA THEATER FESTIVAL

SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS

RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

LENGTH: 2:27

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Benghazi, Libya - 10 August 2023

1. Various of actors performing "Doors of Wind" play on stage
2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Muhammad Al-Sadiq, chairman of the preparatory committee of the festival:
"This year, we have selected five performers: four from Libya and one from Tunisia, our guest of honor. These performers hail from Tripoli, Misrata, Al-Marj, Benghazi, and Tunisia. We held significant workshops beginning eight days before the festival started, which included dramaturgy, scenography, and actor preparation."

3. Actors performing on stage
4. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Muhammad Al-Sadiq, chairman of the preparatory committee of the festival:
"We invited instructors from abroad. The Arab Theater Authority has generously covered their travel and ticket expenses. Additionally, we conducted important cultural seminars. Thank God, the festival has achieved its objectives so far."

5. Various of people library of People's Theatre in Benghazi, book about Libyan and Arab theater on shelf
6. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Ali Al-Falah, play writer:
"These festivals serve as theatrical seasons, showcasing various types of theater. This even includes genres that cater to a niche audience, what's often termed the 'elite.' These festivals play a pivotal role in the production of diverse works, making them a reflective theatrical season encapsulating the essence of Libyan theater."

7. Various of actors performing "Doors of Wind" play on stage
8. Attendees applauding at end of play

STORYLINE:
Libya is holding a one week theater festival in Benghazi, featuring plays and performances made over the last two years, to promote the arts in the country.

This year's festival features four performers from Libya and one from Tunisia, the guest of honor to the event, said Muhammad Al-Sadiq of the organizer's committee.

Ahead of the festival, workshops on dramaturgy, scenography, and actor preparation were offered to the public.

Such events in Libya "play a pivotal role in the production of diverse works, making them a reflective theatrical season encapsulating the essence of Libyan theater," said Ali Al-Falah, a playwright.

The Benghazi Festival for Performing Arts coincides with the 87th anniversary of the creation of the People's Theater in Benghazi, that launched the first theatrical movement in the North African country.

It was shut down in 2011 following the NATO-backed uprising that toppled and killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi.

The theater reopened in 2019 and is now hosting the festival which began on Sunday and will conclude on Saturday, Aug. 12.

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