EGYPT: One of Egypt's last remaining pantomime artist faces an uphill battle to keep his art form alive

Record ID: 1538866

  • Title: EGYPT: One of Egypt's last remaining pantomime artist faces an uphill battle to keep his art form alive
  • Date: 4th November 2010
  • Summary: NABIL CHECKS HIS MAKE-UP
  • Embargoed: 20th November 2010 08:32
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Egypt
  • Country: Egypt
  • Topics: Art,Arts / Culture / Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA6M1JBSEXQZ3QOAA6ZVOOCWB7Z
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Pantomime is an art form more readily associated with the Christmas festive season in Europe than theatres in Egypt. But visitors to the Cairo Opera House were treated to a performance by one of the country's most renowned pantomime artists.
    Ahmed Nabil, one of the few remaining pantomime artists in Egypt, began his career forty years ago.
    In 1972 he won a scholarship to study the centuries-old art in the former USSR before returning to his native country.
    He has since performed all over the world in countries including Germany, India, Russia and Italy.
    Dressed in black with his face painted white, Nabil performed alone on an empty stage using only movement and facial expressions to tell his stories.
    Most specialists believe the art form has it's roots in ancient Greece, but according to Nabil the art form was originally developed in Egypt.
    Its origins are linked to the story telling figures carved on the walls of the Pharaoh's temples, believes Nabil.
    His show at the Cairo Opera House was only on for one night, and despite his rare performance around 50 tickets were sold in an auditorium with more than 100 seats.
    Nabil said the small audience shows just how much the art from is slowly dying out, and that more should be done to renew interest in the art form in Egypt.
    "This is originally an Egyptian art. As I said, Egypt should establish an institute for the pantomime art or add a new course to the curriculum of the Institute of Performing Arts. And they can invite professors and artists from foreign countries to teach how to perform pantomime shows and I can contribute to this part too. But I think they don't like me, any way I'm ready to help," said Nabil backstage.
    Pantomime is one of the oldest performing art forms and Nabil's shows combine music with the art of miming. The stories he tells through his facial expressions and movements often focus around the themes of love, comedy, social issues and politics.
    Many artists consider Nabil as a pioneer of pantomime theatre in Egypt, and despite his acclaim he says he is facing an uphill battle trying to stop the curtain from coming down on pantomime.
    Nabil's pantomime performances aren't strictly reserved for the stage, his mimes have also been included in TV shows and films.
    But despite his success, he says TV channels are no longer interested in what he does.
    "I know that you all enjoy pantomime, and I'll tell you a secret: I've proposed various ideas to many satellite TV channels, but there wasn't any response, I don't know why, but I'm still here, and I'll spend my life to keep on performing pantomime," said Nabil, backstage at the Cairo Opera House.
    Pantomime artists argue that the techniques used in performances provide a vital foundation for all actors and directors.
    They say it's the creativity and imagination provided by the art that helps actors develop and strengthen their skills.
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