LIBYA: A production of Ibsen's 'The Enemy Of The People', translated into Arabic and set in a post Arab Spring society, is staged in Libya

Record ID: 862060

  • Title: LIBYA: A production of Ibsen's 'The Enemy Of The People', translated into Arabic and set in a post Arab Spring society, is staged in Libya
  • Date: 23rd September 2013
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) AUDIENCE MEMBER, MOHAMED ABDULLAH, SAYING: "The show was excellent and has a variety of things - it talks about people's freedom and it talks about what happens behind the scenes in government."
  • Embargoed: 8th October 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Libya
  • City:
  • Country: Libya
  • Topics: Arts
  • Reuters ID: LVA8SJ6C2FQMSVXAK6Z60TMP0FVM
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  • Story Text: Norwegian writer Henrik Ibsen's "The Enemy Of The People" has seen many adaptations for both stage and screen.
    Now the latest version inspired by the 19th century play sees the story translated to Arabic and moved to post revolutionary Egypt.
    After winning a host of awards, the production performed by the Egyptian Lamusika Independent group is now on tour outside the country, starting in Libya.

    "Enemy of the People is a musical and political drama inspired from the famous script of the Norwegian writer Henrik Ibsen. The Lamusika Independent troupe has been presenting for approximately one year now and this is our first trip outside of Egypt after playing about 30 nights so far and Libya is our first stop in our tour outside of Egypt," said Noura Ameen, the production's director.
    Ibsen's original play, set in a small town, explores themes such as the political dominance of the majority over the minority and the manipulation of that majority by politicians for their own ends.
    Re-imagining the play in an Arab Spring setting made perfect sense, said Ameen.

    "We consider the play, despite the original script being written in 1882, addresses the direct reality, right now, of the Arab Spring countries or the countries that have had revolutions or political changes, because the original core of Ibsen's script is timeless."
    Ameen's production, hosted by the Arieti foundation for Arts and Culture, ran for four nights in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, at the beginning of September.
    The play's themes struck a chord with its mostly young audience.

    "The show was excellent and has a variety of things - it talks about people's freedom and it talks about what happens behind the scenes in government," said Mohamed Abdullah.
    Ameen and two of the production's actors won awards at Egypt's National Theatre Festival this year.

    "The Enemy of The People" will travel next to Europe for performances in Norway and Sweden.
    wr/jrc
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