Report by Nimrod Qasha and Sam Subhi
The activities of the second day of the inaugural Syriac Theatre Festival, organised by the General Directorate of Syriac Culture and Arts in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region during the period 14 to 16 December in Erbil Governorate’s Ankawa District Centre, continued on Friday 15 December 2023.
The second day began its activities with a morning discussion, in the hall of the Hyksos Hotel, centered around “Theatrical Leadership in Iraq… Syriac Leadership.” It was presented by the former Dean of the University of Babylon’s Faculty of Fine Arts, Dr. Ali al-Rubaie, and the Dean of the University of Mosul’s Faculty of Fine Arts, Dr. Nashaat Mubarak.
Dr. Ali al-Rubaie spoke about an important stage in the history of Syriac theatre, pointing out that the Syriacs’ first theatrical performance in Iraq was through the presentation of the play “Yusuf al-Siddiq” (Joseph the Righteous). This was directed by Fr. Marie Joseph and presented on 4 October 1874 at the Latin Fathers’ School in Baghdad.
In his talk, al-Rubaie also mentioned children’s theatre, stressing that the first printed theatrical text in Iraq was “Latif and Khoshaba,” indicating that theatre in Iraq was established, started, and founded on the shoulders of the Syriacs.
Then, Dr. Nashat Mubarak spoke about “Symbols of the Establishment in Syriac theatre,” pointing out that the important base that Syriac theatre possesses is the base of religious rituals. This is because these Church celebrations contain a set of data that can be circulated in theatrical performance, which is present in the religious mass, through the priest and the laity.
Mubarak added that celebration in Syriac theatre is based on the legacies we possess. Through these, we can establish Syriac theatre, because it has its own originality, as well as cultural, social and religious components.
At the end of the discussion session, Dr. Musab Ibrahim delivered a paper titled: “The Identity of Syriac Theatre between Tradition and Consolidation.”
As for the evening segment, it included two theatrical performances – the first by the Qaraqosh Theater Ensemble, titled: “The Firewood Ritual,” written by Ibrahim Yuhanna Golan and directed by Dr. Nashat Mubarak Sliwa, and performed by Wisam Khidhr Musa, Musab Ibrahim Muhammad, Saddam Salem Hanna, Maral Sabah, Dima Matti, Mary Majid and Melissa Ammar.
As for the second play, it was by the Shimsha Acting Group and was called “Tobias.” It was directed by Latif Numan, assisted by Anas Oulu and Juan Sevan, while Latif Numan, Ivan Saadi, Hadir Kunda and Evin Baher participated in its performance.
It is worth noting that the inaugural Syriac Theatre Festival, organised by the General Directorate of Syriac Culture and Arts in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region during the period 14 to 16 December, included a number of theatrical events and discussion panels in which an elite group of artists and academics interested in theatrical affairs participated.
