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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Arabic traditional theatre
Author:Machut-Mendecka, EwaISNI
Year:1994
Periodical:Africana Bulletin
Issue:42
Pages:75-95
Language:English
Geographic term:Arab countries
Subject:folk drama
Abstract:There is some controversy among specialists as to whether one can speak of the existence of Arabic theatre prior to the 20th century. In order to establish what was and was not theatre in the period of classical Arabic culture (6th to 19th century) one can only refer to the simplest initial pattern of theatrical art, which is the relationship between the spectator and the actor. The attitude of Islam towards theatrical art was varied. While Sunnism was fairly conservative, nonorthodox Islam inspired the development of theatrical forms by shaping the spectator-actor relationship in its rites and spectacles, exemplified by the 'ta'ziyya', the Shiite spectacle of passion which commemorates the martyr's death of al-.Husayn, and the Sufi 'dikr', the ceremony to achieve mystic ecstasy. The shadow play and its derivative forms, such as the Egyptian 'ar¯ag¯uz', were also widespread in the Islamic world. Three 13th-century texts of Ibn D¯aniy¯al, an Iraqi by descent and a naturalized Egyptian, are among the most famous shadow plays. Epic tales, absorbing popular poetry and performed by a narrator or storyteller, gave rise to the development in Arab culture both of epic shows with strictly outlined profiles and various forms of comedy. These performances, which often took the shape of a circle ('.halqa'), are regarded today as one of the most important 'theatrical signs' of the Arab Middle Ages. Notes, ref.
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