Project
Laughter under the Bombs (Duhik That al Kasif) was staged in Beirut during the Israeli bombing of the city. Despite the fact that the area was under immediate threat by the Israeli army, more than 500 people turned up to watch the play each night. The project was a unique collaboration that arose directly out of a devastated city with people trapped by the military bombardment. The theatre itself became a shelter, where families slept on the stage, in the aisles and any other free space. According to the theatre director, Sharif Abdunnur, the play provided a much needed comic distraction from the events happening outside the theatre, both through the devising of the play, the rehearsals and the final performance. The play itself is based on the drama therapy workshops run by Abdunnur and his colleagues with children during the war.
Laughter under the Bombs was performed by the young people who were living in the theatre during the Israeli bombing campaign. It was a comedy based on the theme of audience participation, where the plot of the play is a rehearsal by an acting troupe during the war. The cast comes on stage wearing T-shirts with the word 'Actor' and a unique number on them, and begin to tell stories from their lives. However, the troupe is missing 14 of its members, so the cast must draft audience members in to fill the spaces left by the missing troupe members. The play then becomes a loose improvisation where the participating audience members are given space to voice their own opinions about the war. The comedy ensues from the audience and actor improvisations, which are directed by a loud and enthusiastic Director who shouts instructions at the 'cast.' Thus, the actors and participating audience members must constantly re-deliver lines, change acting styles and attempt foreign accents.
Masrah Al Arab is committed to therapeutic work with children in Lebanon. They work with both Lebanese and Palestinian refugee children living in the South of Lebanon. The company also trains local young people to run drama therapy workshops and deal with diverse issues like suicide, AIDS/HIV and women's rights.
