More dynamic performances at Kalba Short Plays Festival

Ahmed Bourhima, Director of the Theatre Department at the Sharjah Culture Department and festival director, attended an intellectual discussion on "The role of short plays in developing directing skills" on the third day.

In the first session, Tunisian researcher Dr. Rayan Al Qadi emphasised Nobel laureate Dario Fo's minimalist directing style, which relied on players' energy and audience involvement rather than technical shows, transforming comedy into a tool for social critique. Yassin Al Hawari, a Moroccan researcher, addressed Samuel Beckett's short works as director training grounds, which need knowledge of symbolism, rhythm, and time management.

Yassin Al Hawari addressed the creative challenges and directorial approaches.

The second session focused on the issues of directing short plays. Tunisian researcher Dr Ashraf Al Rabhi investigated how restricted performance time can be both a restraint and a source of creativity, necessitating brief conversation and imaginative staging.

Iraqi director and writer Mukhled Rasem discussed his personal experience with short plays in Europe, particularly his long-running production "Waiting", which was based on testimonials concerning the concept of waiting. He emphasised that each audience member participates in short theatre within their particular intellectual timeframe.

Evening shows captivate audiences

The evening included two theatrical acts. "Field of Punishment,", adapted from Franz Kafka's In the Penal Colony and directed by Hakob Eid, provided a visual voyage into the protagonist's crazed psyche and won appreciation during the post-show conversation moderated by Egyptian artist Mohammed Kuwaila.

The second piece, "The Hospital" by Peter Nazareth, directed by Amal Hassan, depicted the hardships of a sick man plagued by emotional recollections. The critical discussion, hosted by Tunisian actress Sana Krichoud, was divided: some praised the complexity of the directorial approach, while others believed the production leaned too heavily on expressive tactics.