Theatrical season

Theater memory

Sudan Events –  Al Sir Al Sayed

Among the dazzling traditions in the history of Sudanese theatre, the tradition of the theatrical season comes to the fore. It is a tradition created by the exceptional theatrical pioneer, Al-Faki Abdel-Rahman 1933-2002. The theatrical season is a tradition in which many diverse theatrical performances are presented on the stage of the National Theater in Omdurman, with full funding from the state.
The theatrical seasons began in 1967 and have continued continuously. Regular until the year 1978, it did not stop completely, but rather it fluctuated between continuity and interruption, so that it cannot be said that the tradition of the theatrical season was completely abolished, but rather we can say with certainty that it faltered in a significant way. Perhaps this is due to the state’s decline in funding the theater in addition to the emergence of other windows from which it opens.
The theatrical performance has changed from the stage of the National Theater, particularly since the late 1980s of the last century until now.
We refer here, for those who desire more information regarding theatrical seasons and about the state’s relationship with theater, to the book (Theatrical Movement in Sudan 1967-1978), which can be considered the first and most important document that documented the theatrical seasons and researched.
In its value and roles, we also refer to the book (Unfinished Circles), which approached the transformations in the state’s relationship with theatre.
The theatrical seasons, particularly in the period extending from 1967 to 1978, had great additions to the theater movement in Sudan. Some of these additions include the following:
1. It opened the theatrical performance to sources for other texts through what is known as preparation, Sudanization, and translation. We have witnessed a number of performances based on Arab, African, or foreign texts that were Sudanized, translated, or prepared.
2. Through its regularity, organization, and diversity of its performances, it contributed to making theater part of the Sudanese traditions of socializing and entertainment, and thus contributed to creating an audience for theater.
3. Since one of the policies of theatrical seasons was to transport performances to the major cities of Sudan and some of its villages, this helped a lot in spreading the culture of theater and breaking the dominance of the capital in enjoying this great art alone.
4. Competition between playwrights in the elements of the theatrical process, including writing, directing, acting, and scenography, helped a lot in developing these elements, as prizes were offered for writing, acting, and others.
5. The continuity of the shows, especially with the presence of the radio and television magazine and many cultural supplements other than the daily newspapers, helped a lot in crystallizing a critical movement whose influence was evident on subsequent generations.
6. The theatrical season performances were subjected to high sensitivity in terms of quality regarding all elements of the theater process, which protected the theatrical performances from stupidity and shallowness.
The additions to the theatrical season are many and great. We hope that the theater will regain its health and that the theatrical season will return better than it was.