Why Live Theater Still Matters | Ahmed El Attar

Playwright and director Ahmed El Attar explores the evolution of the Egyptian independent theater movement, tracing its roots from the 1990s counterculture to its role as a precursor for social change. He discusses the crisis of state-run institutions in the Arab world, marked by bureaucracy, censorship, and a disconnect from contemporary audiences. Through his own work, such as "The Discrete Charm of the Pillars of Society", El Attar examines the universal power structures of the family and challenges notions of Western superiority by revealing shared human greed and prejudice.   0:00 Introduction 1:56 Theater Education and Training in Egypt 4:01 Egypt's Unique Theater Scene and Audience 5:17 The Regional Crisis in Theater and Formal Training 7:16 Diagnosing the Crisis: Red Tape and Lack of Funding 9:53 The Vital Importance of Live Performance 11:52 Theater vs. Film & TV 12:51 History of Egypt’s 1990s Independent Theater Scene 14:52 The State Sector: Programming, Payroll, and Bureaucracy 17:40 Decline of State Theater and the Rise of Visionary Adaptations 20:18 Counterculture Pushback Against Archaic Institutions 22:20 Genesis of the Temple Independent Theater Company 24:11 University Facilities and Real-World Technical Experience 27:40 The Life Cycle of Independent Movements and Social Change 30:46 Focusing on the Family Power Structure 32:51 The Artistic Evolution of Subtext and Early Plays 36:21 Identifying and Reaching the Egyptian Audience 38:55 Must-Watch Arab Theater Makers and Playwrights 42:07 The Rise of Contemporary Dance in the Arab World 43:01 Theater's Ephemeral Nature vs. Digital Recording 44:47 Genesis of "The Discreet Charm of the Pillars of Society" 45:42 Challenging Notions of Western Civilizational Superiority 47:16 Shared Human Weakness: Greed, Prejudice, and Racism 50:12 Actor Training: Expanding Horizons and Embracing Humility   An award-winning Egyptian independent theatre director, translator, playwright and cultural manager. He is founder and General Manager of Studio Emad Eddin Foundation, an organization that offers rehearsals and training spaces to independent artists in the field of performing arts in Egypt. El Attar is also the founder and the artistic director of Orient Productions, the Temple Independent Theatre Company and D-CAF (Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival). He is also the artistic director of the Falaki theatre in Cairo. El Attar has a BA in Theatre from the American University in Cairo (1992) and an MA in Arts and Cultural Management from Paris III Sorbonne Nouvelle (2001). Hosted by: Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mikey_muFOLLOW & RATE THE NYUAD ARTS CENTER PODCAST:» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-arts-center-at-nyu-abu-dhabi-podcast-powered-by-afikra/id1707014540» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0bnc6jhwbSGKZyEI6LBuAu?si=4359dabaa57b4e83» Anghami: https://open.anghami.com/uApM34ABKMbTHIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK Explore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl63W_KIMC2HWDoyqRi-2fzN&feature=sharedABOUT AFIKRAafikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.