- Title: RELIGION-RAMADAN/JORDAN-SHOW Palestinian satirical show pushes social boundaries
- Date: 14th July 2015
- Summary: FARRAJEEN PERFORMING AUDIENCE LAUGHING FARRAJEEN PERFORMING AUDIENCE WATCHING VARIOUS OF FARRAJEEN PERFORMING AUDIENCE LAUGHING WATAN A WATAR MEMEBER, MANAL AWADA, AND FARRAJEEN PERFORMING
- Embargoed: 29th July 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Jordan
- Country: Jordan
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA4W6JAVMH8H5EJNPNQGLS9YQ1N
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Palestinian actors from comedy group Watan A Watar are bringing tears of laughter to an audience in Amman, poking fun at thorny social topics.
For this theatre group no theme is off limits, with their sketches poking fun at topics related to homosexuality, Islamic State and women's rights in the Arab world.
Emad Farrajeen, actor and sketch writer for Watan A Watar said their satirical show reflects the reality of the Arab street.
"I am the child of the street I live on the street I also suffer what the street experience. I did not fall on people from a helicopter or a plane. The Jordanian street is the same as the Palestinian street in terms of concerns; social and economic issues. It all comes from honesty, simplicity, and spontaneity. There is no need for complexity, people want to see themselves through you," Farrajeen said.
As a group Watan A Watar have gained a huge following proving popular in an around the region. But despite their success, one of the group's female stars said their aren't enough opportunities for Palestinian women to excel in this field.
"The problem is not with the abilities of the Palestinian woman, the problem is with the opportunities that are available for Palestinian woman. We do not have production cities like Egypt, Syria, and even the situation in Jordan is better. It's all individual initiatives, we do not have official sides or non-official that can embrace the artists and support them. I blame the private sector that does not support the artists or art initiatives. So this is the crisis of the Palestinian female artist, which is the lack of opportunities," Awada said.
Among Watan A Watar's most popular sketches is one on Islamic State produced last year, which went viral on social media. With large parts of the Arab region going through political crises and social turmoil, the group isn't short of material.
The Palestinian comedy group is entertaining audiences in Amman throughout the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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