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Performance by Former Lebanese Political Detainees in Syrian Prisons
Untitled
بلا عنوان
November 11 & December 14 - 16, 2018 @ Zoukak Studio | Beirut


In the first activity of the MENA Prison Forum, former Lebanese detainees in Syria's infamous prisons, namely Tadmor, came together for a live performance, facilitated by Zoukak Theatre Company, and produced by UMAM D&R. The seven former prisoners had previously shared their difficult experiences with viewers through the film Tadmor.

Reprising their acting roles, they took the stage on November 11, 2018, under the title "Untitled" as the closing event of the 10-day Sidewalks Festival, held by Beirut's Zoukak Theatre Company. Due to significant interest and a sell-out performance, they performed again for three additional days in December 2018. Then in June 2019, the group traveled to Germany to perform at the festival Theaterformen. 

During their performance, the former prisoners used haunting descriptions with occasional comedy to give an account of their immensely difficult lives in one of the region's most notorious incarceration facilities. As political prisoners for 8-15 years each, they used the stage to help advocate for those still locked up while undergoing a sort of therapy themselves. In the end they discussed their formal return to society but made clear that scars of imprisonment are present for life. The process of creating and developing their performance was edited into a short film.

"Untitled" is performed by Ali AbouDehn, Raymond Bouban, Moussa Saab, Elie Tanios, Rachid Mirhom, Saadeddine Seifedeen and Mostafa Shamseddine.

This performance was produced by Zoukak Theatre Company and UMAM Documentation & Research in collaboration with the NGO Former Lebanese Political Detainees in Syria, and funded by the Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen (ifa).


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