Give me a theatre, I’ll give you an intellectual community [Archives:2005/838/Last Page]
By Yasser al-Mayasi
Yemen Times Staff
[email protected]
Creativity and success sometimes require a variety of prerequisites that include struggle and consistent exhaustion, which makes a person feel that he is in confrontation with the entire world and the whole society. But the belief in the significance of the goal makes him or her consider tiredness comfort when success is achieved.
Stories of struggle and success are galore though each one may differ from the other in its aims, but all of them share the same point, which is the self effort and personal struggle whith its beginning always difficult.
Many geniuses died of hunger in order to create their glory and success; they suffered from harsh circumstances yet, they didn't withdraw to achieve their noble goals which are beneficial for all human beings.
In third world countries, ways of creating glory are very difficult and unachievable, especially when we know the many and different obstacles under the frame of having increasing averages of unemployment, lack of labor opportunities and the increase in educational outcome that doesn't meet the markets requirements. Therefore, the cultural projects and encouraging creative people of the intellects are not available in these severe conditions.
Last week, when we decided to watch a cultural play by the young intellectual Fekri Qasem in the Cultural Center in Taiz, the real tragedy took place when the theatre band aimed to make an anatomy for the cultural backwardness in general, and the theater in particular which is now breathing its last sigh. The play entitled 'whom we try?' was a success though performed with personal efforts of some of Taiz schools' students in addition to some young volunteers who are fond of the theatre that is deprived of care.
Those youth and small children who performed this play were insistent on success regardless of the negligence given to creative people and creativity itself in their community.
Their play reflected sufferings of intellects and actors who are not able to perform their works, as long as all people escape from them and refuse to offer a helping hand. Though the show was free, only a few people attended it, yet the playwriter confirmed his happiness and content with the few people who came willingly with their families to watch his play, as it indicated the beginning of a love for theatre. He is happy that the official authorities didn't interact with him.
Fekri was talking about not encouraging creative people with a great taste of bitterness. He as well as his colleagues, knocked at the governmental and non-governmental doors asking for help in order to stage the play and recieved few facilities at last.
Fekri's play, “Whom we try?” proved the honest sufferings of creative people and what theatre faces in Yemen. They exposed the obstacles that made the Yemeni theatre die and with no simple activities at school theatres which became neglected as well.
Actors and creative people suffer today from disappointment and distrust; are chased by failure.
Many officials who are responsible for developing culture don't estimate the value of theatres and its significance in treating the various issues, especially those which are concerned with raising awareness. They also targeted the idea of dealing with the attrition of school students from schools, and so many iissues via the effective theatre. Today the theatre is being rebuilt.
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