Grandma tales to tell story of UAE's past

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Meet Heba. Her full name is Hebatallah Reda Mostafa El Desouqi. She is Egyptian-Emirati. An architect passionate about art Heba recently got involved in a new theatre project in Abu Dhabi a documentary theatre production Memories of Childhood which will be presented on April 6 as part of this year's Abu Dhabi Festival (ADF).

For this project Heba along with four other Emirati citizens or long time residents here had to interview their mothers or grandmothers about life in the old days. Each one had to create a monologue then and re-tell the story in theatrical fashion on stage.

"Theatre documentary is about connecting the art of documentary making with the art of performance. You can say documentary theatre has been around since the early days of theatre as theatre is about documenting emotions" said Dr Nezar Andary Zayed University professor and head of Documentary Theatre Abu Dhabi.

For Abu Dhabi audiences though Memories of Childhood is the first encounter with documentary theatre.

Written and performed in both Arabic and English by a cast of present or former university students - all first and second-generation UAE residents - the play brings back early memories of the UAE; the story of an Yemeni national settling in Abu Dhabi and there are even stories going beyond the Emirati borders about making a film in Egypt in 1997 or some memories involving an Indian movie from the 70s.

From each story the amateur actress composed a monologue that will give audiences a glimpse into the real lives of women who witnessed the UAE's evolution.

"That these talented women have chosen to share their family stories with us is a privilege and we hope the experience will enable audiences connect with the UAE's unique journey across the last few generations" said Dr Andary. "So far the project has been very emotional and poignant for everyone involved" he told Khaleej Times.

The performance will have five monologues and six amateur actresses on stage. To help out the production Dr Andary has got two professional performing artists joining the play - Lebanese actress/writer/director Yara Bou Nassar who will perform her own music during the show as well as coach the other amateur actresses in an intensive acting workshop before the performance; and Italian artist Francesca Bizzari now a resident of Abu Dhabi who will assist in the transitional movement between scenes on stage.

The performance will take place on April 6 at the Institute of Applied Technology - Female Campus (Old Zayed University Campus) from 8pm.

On April 3 the ADF will launch its 13th edition with another theatrical event an intensive three-week theatre training course as well as a programme of music in hospitals where UAE musicians will perform for patients visitors and hospital staff in several hospitals across the UAE. The main programme of ADF 2016 will start on April 10 with a French concert with France being the country of honour for this year's festival.

Memories of Childhood explained

> The performance will have five monologues and six amateur actresses on stage

> It will be written and performed in both Arabic and English by first and second-generation UAE residents

> Five Emiratis or long-time UAE residents interviewed their mothers or grandmothers about life in the old days

> The artists created a monologue out of this to re-tell the story on stage on April 6