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Sharjah 24
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sharjah 24
Dibba Al Hisn Duo Theatre Festival concludes its 8th edition
'Profile 'concludes the shows The audience on the final night watched the Egyptian play 'Profile', performed by the "Layali Al-Masri" troupe. Nahed El-Tahan wrote the play, Enas Al-Masri provided dramaturgy and direction, and actors Mai Reda and Nashwa Mohammed performed. A fusion of mythology and literature The play presents an imaginative meeting between Medea—a mythological Greek figure who exacted brutal revenge on her unfaithful husband—and Amina, a character from Naguib Mahfouz's 'Cairo Trilogy'. In this portrayal, Amina is reimagined as a modern Egyptian woman who accepts her difficult life, dedicating herself to her family and running a TikTok cooking channel as a means of livelihood. Differing views on marriage The encounter between Medea and Amina, separated by centuries, highlights contrasting perspectives on marriage. Medea embodies anger and vengeance in response to betrayal, while Amina values preserving her home and caring for her daughters, overlooking her husband's marriage to another woman in his quest for a son. Enriched performance Staged in a realistic setting, the performance relied on dialogue to draw out the ideological divide between the two women. Video projections illustrated Medea's mythical journey from the sun to Earth and reflected Amina's engagement with social media. Music and sound effects helped transition between scenes and added emotional depth to specific moments. Critical session A post-performance critical session, moderated by Egyptian theatre artist Fady Nashat, saw participants commend the efforts of the team and the play's ambition in addressing the societal status of women. Diverse programme The eighth edition of the Dibba Al Hisn Duo Theatre Festival, which began on Friday, 23 May, featured five theatrical productions, including 'Profile'. Other performances included '17 Hours' by Sharjah National Theatre, 'Individual Salvation' by Syria's Tajamu Ashjar troupe, 'Life and Dream' by Morocco's Al-Shamat Theatre, and 'To Prepare a Boiled Egg ' by Kuwait Theatre. The festival also hosted the 20th Sharjah Arab Theatre Forum and held three workshops for school theatre facilitators in directing, scenography, and puppetry. A festival founded to foster theatrical exchange Established in 2016, the Dibba Al Hisn Duo Theatre Festival was launched in response to the directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, with the aim of expanding and diversifying theatrical activity in the emirate and building bridges of communication and knowledge exchange between Emirati and Arab theatre professionals.
Arab News
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Lyna Khoudri-starring film ‘Eagles of the Republic' premieres at Cannes
DUBAI: French Algerian actress Lyna Khoudri's film 'Eagles of the Republic' premiered this week at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, and it received a coveted standing ovation following the screening. For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @ Directed by Swedish Egyptian filmmaker Tarik Saleh, the film is the final chapter in his acclaimed 'Cairo Trilogy,' which includes 'The Nile Hilton Incident' (2017) and 'Boy From Heaven' (2022), the latter earning him the Best Screenplay award at Cannes. Set in Cairo, 'Eagles of the Republic' follows George El-Nabawi, a fading movie star who reluctantly agrees to play a role in a political biopic. Khoudri portrays Donya, a journalist who becomes entangled in the political intrigue surrounding the film's protagonist, Fahmy. The movie also features Swedish Lebanese actor Fares Fares — a longtime collaborator of Saleh — in the lead role, alongside French Moroccan actress Zineb Triki as Suzanne, the Western-educated wife of Egypt's defence minister, and Egyptian actor Amr Waked as presidential adviser Dr. Mansour. For the premiere, Khoudri wore a sculptural strapless Chanel dress featuring a voluminous skirt, a structured bodice, and folded detailing along the neckline. The gown was cinched at the waist and flared into pleats. She completed the look with white open-toe heels and a sleek bun. She attended the premiere alongside Saleh, Waked, French film composer and conductor Alexandre Desplat, and Kurdish Finnish actor, filmmaker and writer Sherwan Haji, who also stars in the film. Khoudri, 32, first rose to prominence in her role as Nedjma in Mounia Meddour's critically acclaimed drama 'Papicha.' For her work in the film, she won the Orizzonti Award for best actress at the 74th Venice Film Festival, and she was nominated in the Cesar Awards' most promising actress category. Khoudri also starred in the 2019 mini-series 'Les Sauvages' and in 2016's 'Blood on the Docks.' She was also cast in Wes Anderson's 2021 comedy 'The French Dispatch' alongside Timothee Chalamet, Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton and Owen Wilson. The actress also stars in Martin Bourboulon's Afghanistan evacuation drama 'In The Hell Of Kabul: 13 Days, 13 Nights,' alongside Danish Bafta-winning 'Borgen' star Sidse Babett Knudsen, Roschdy Zem ('Chocolat,' 'Oh Mercy!'), and theater actor Christophe Montenez.
