Syrian Refugees and Lebanese Youth in “Theatre of The Oppressed” to Bring About Change

LOST and UNICEF have collaborated together for Syrian and Lebanese youth to express themselves through art, in specific theatre. With the guidance of instructor, Abdu Shaheen, the group of 15 adolescents put together a series of acts that will be enacted on different platforms spread throughout the Hermel, Ein, Bedneyel, and Baalbek areas.

 

Shaheen trained the actors on stage techniques like voice volume, body gestures, personality expressions as well improvising. Through the process of digging for local issues, the youth are motivated to think critically to find resolutions as well as arouse feelings of empathy in the audience towards the Syrian Refugees.

 

While improvising, the actors on the stage interact with the audience by inviting them to take part. This interactive form of theatre allows the audience to find alternative solutions to the problem being acted out. The actors’ impromptu is forever changing with every volunteer that comes up on stage.

 

In the skits the youth created from real life experiences they use the techniques of epic theatre to ridicule society and point out the flaws in our community in order to arouse feelings in the audience to change and make a difference. The goal of the “Theatre of the oppressed” is for the audience to recognize the fault in the environment we live through the skits. This theatre releases a sway of catharsis for the spectators; make a double take in the reality we abide by. The emotions felt by the audience through the theatre acts as a catalyst for change to restore humanity.

 

 

Here are the show dates:

Hermel

• Friday august 21st  - Jar el Ahmar at 6 p.m.

• Saturday August 22nd - Camp al Mansoura at 6 p.m.

• Sunday august 23rd- The Public Library at 6 p.m.

Al-Ein

• Friday August 28th – Camp Chaat at 6 p.m.

• Saturday August 29th – LOST Center in Ein at 12 p.m.

• Saturday August 29th  - New Camp at 6 p.m.

Bedneyel

• Friday September 4th – Camp Masriya at 11 a.m.

• Friday September 4th – Camp Hawsh El Rafqa at 6 p.m.

• Monday September 7th – LOST Center in Bedneyel at 6 p.m.

Baalbek

• Thursday September 10th – ElBayan at 11 a.m.

• Thursday September 10th – ElTaybe at 5 p.m.

• Friday September 11th- Tamooz Hall at 5 p.m.