Cynthia Schneider reviews artists’ influence on political change in the twentieth century and today, tracing an evolution of cultural diplomacy toward local artists. Her talk, originally presented in spring 2025, serves as a reminder of what culture-bearers can accomplish.
Nubia has a long history of theatre, both before and after the displacement of the 1960s. In this episode, hosts Marina Johnson and Nabra Nelson highlight Nubian theatre, including the only Nubian opera, Opera El Aml by Mohy El Din Sherif. With special guest Mazen Alaa from Nubian Geographic, this episode focus on Nubian theatre in Abu Simbel and the effect that the displacement had and continues to have on theatre in Nubia and the Nubian diaspora today.
Hosts Marina Johnson and Nabra Nelson look at MENA and SWANA puppetry traditions with guest artivist Dr. Sarah Fahmy. They talk about her production of the first recorded full play in English of Ibn Daniyal, The Shadow Spirit; the Aragoz Puppet; and, coming more into current puppetry practice by MENA folks, Fahmy's own ecofeminist puppetry practice.
Hosts Marina Johnson and Nabra Nelson talk about Egyptian playwright Tawfiq al-Hakim and his “unstageable” classic play People of the Cave. They provide historical context of the play, al-Hakim’s career, and the Christian and Islamic stories that served as al-Hakim’s inspiration.
In this episode, hosts Nabra Nelson and Marina Johnson discuss the oldest surviving play, The Triumph of Horus. The play is an Ancient Egyptian script from the thirteenth century BCE that tells the story of the triumph of the god Horus over Set. Nabra and Marina go through the plot of the play, its history and significance, and give an overview of other forms of Ancient Egyptian theatre.
Greening the theatre is crucial to the sustainability of theatre and the planet. Theatre designers such as lighting personnel, set designers, costumers, property designers, and sound engineers are rethinking and retooling for the purpose of creating a more eco-friendly, sustainable, and environmentally just and responsible theatre practice. In this episode, we bring theatre practitioners (such as designers and eco-scenographers) who are advancing sustainable artistic values in their practice.
Art That Unites, Makes Us Stand Up, and Makes Us Human
Friday 16 September 2022
Oslo, Norway
Safe Havens Freedom Talks (SH|FT), together with Safemuse, presented a Freedom Talk at In the Name of Freedom, livestreaming on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Friday 16 September at 8:30 a.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4) / 12:30 UTC / 2:30 p.m. CEST (Oslo, UTC +2).
To Create and to Oppose: People Will Not Listen to Politicians, but They Will Listen to Artists
Friday 4 February 2022
Norway
Safe Havens Freedom Talks presented a conversation on The Power of Art livestreaming on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Friday 4 February 2022 at 8:30 a.m. EST (New York, UTC -5) / 14:30 CET (Oslo, UTC +1).
Episode Two of Decolonizing Dramaturgy: Theatremakers from Africa in Conversation
Wednesday 27 October 2021
Africa
Taiwo Afolabi presented Decolonizing Dramaturgy: Dramaturgy and dramaturgical processes from Egypt, Nigeria and Zimbabwe livestreaming on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Wednesday 27 October 2021 at 9 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -7) / 12 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4) / 5 p.m. WAT (Lagos, UTC +1) / 17:00 BST (London, UTC +1) / 18:00 SAST (Johannesburg, UTC +2) / 18:00 CEST (Berlin, UTC +2) / 19:00 EAT (Nairobi, UTC +3).
How Can We Use Artistic Tools to Create a Common, Global Language of Progress and Change?
Thursday 20 May 2021
Ghent, Belgium
NTGent presented School of Resistance, Episode Fourteen: Revolution Today livestreaming on the global, commons-based, peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 20 May 2021 at 18:00 CEST (Brussels, Cairo, UTC +2) / 17:00 BST (London, UTC +1) / 12 p.m. EDT (New York, Santiago de Chile, UTC -4) / 9 a.m. PDT (Los Angeles, UTC -7).
Meet Ramy Essam, rock star, human rights defender and an important voice in the Egyptian revolution, in conversation on the Balaha case with Alfons Karabuda from UNESCO founded International Music Council (IMC), Andra Matei, Avant-Garde Lawyers – Defending Artists. Sanni Kahilainen, campaign leader and with Ole Reitov, consultant and founder of Freemuse as the moderator.
Daily Live Online Conversations with US and Global Theatre Artists
Monday 6 April 2020
New York City
The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center presented SEGAL TALKS: Sahar Assaf (Lebanon); Dalia Basiouny & Laila Soliman (Egypt) livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Monday 6 April 2020 at 9 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 11 a.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 12 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4) / 5 p.m. BST (London, UTC+1).
The Tradition of Hakawati and its Influence on We Live in Cairo
10 December 2019
Lama El Homaïssi reflects on her experience working with American Repertory Theater on their musical We Live in Cairo, diving into representation in storytelling, the oral Hakawati tradition, and more.
Egyptian American playwright Adam A. Elsayigh uses the 2018 Cairo Festival for Contemporary & Experimental Theatre as a jumping off point to discuss the state of theatre in the city, censorship, playwriting, and more.
Jessica Litwak, artistic director of the H.E.A.T Collective, explores the growing field of artist rights and safety, and talks about her dedication to “art of service,” the work that serves communities by facilitating creative personal and social change.
Playwright Karen Malpede reflects on shows from The 23rd Cairo International Festival for Contemporary and Experimental Theatre, back from a five-year hiatus.
A prominent theatre figure in Lebanon and the Arab region, Hanane Hajj Ali reflects in this piece on the personal and professional encounters that have made her the free woman she is today.
Sarah Matusek on the New York City production of This Time by Sevan K. Greene, adapted from the memoir Not So Long Ago by Amal Meguid, directed by Kareem Fahmy.
Huntington Theatre Company in Boston presented Dancing is a Sin: Two One-Woman Plays from Egypt—a workshop performance and conversation—livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 14 January at 7:30 p.m. EST (Boston) / 6:30 p.m. CST (Chicago) / 4:30 p.m. PST (Los Angeles) / 00:30 GMT (London—Friday 15 January 15) / 02:30 EET (Cairo—Friday 15 January).
