AFTER THREE
DECADES SILENCE OF THEATER IN AFGHANISTAN
Doctor of arts,
S. N. Mohammadi,
First year master of scenography
of the Kazakh National academy of Arts named
after T.Zhurgenov,
Almaty, Kazakhstan
In this article I would
like to briefly talk about the history and the problem of theatrical art of
Afghanistan in the past and now.
Theatre or theater is a
collaborative form of fine art that uses live
performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live
audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to
the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music, and dance.
Elements of art and stagecraft are used to enhance the
physicality, presence and immediacy of the experience.
The first mass
theatrical performances were held in Afghanistan in the 11th c., In the heyday
of the Ghaznavid state. Since ancient
times, enjoyed great popularity among the audience performances stray comedians
- tamers animals, puppeteers and others.
Soon after the conquest
of Afghanistan's independence (1919) in Kabul at the initiative of the local
intelligentsia opened its first theater. In his repertoire consisted of pieces
that reflect Afghans struggle against the British colonialists, satirically
mocked the ignorance and greed of feudal lords. Enjoyed great success the show
"Victory over Andalusia." Women's roles in productions played by men,
t. Women were not allowed on stage.
At the beginning of
theatrical performances were held in Kabul, and since 1926 - in Paghman (a
suburb of the capital), where it was built a special building. In the late
20-ies. Because of the worsening domestic situation, the theater was closed. In
the 30-ies. There were several traveling theater companies that were in
different rooms and gave performances in the open air.
To encourage the
development of national drama Afghan Academy organized in 1939 a competition
for best play. In 1941, the Department of Printing (Kabul) was created by the
Office of People's spectacles, which was supposed to help the development of theatrical
art and the national drama. Popularization plays playwrights were Afghan
national press and radio Kabul.
In the late 40-ies.
Based mobile amateur troupes emerged permanent drama groups. A group of
employees of the Office of Kabul folk spectacles became part of the theater
"Pohani nindare", which initially led by well-known Afghan writer and
playwright R. Latifi. Since 1950.
This theater is a
permanent building with auditorium with 300 seats. In 1947, at the initiative
of the Kabul Municipality opened the theater "Di nyndare Kabul", the
head of which was one of the most prominent contemporary Afghan filmmakers
M.Ali. Raunaq who tried to follow the methods of work of Stanislavsky. Since
1959, the theater provided a special building (800 seats) in the area of Chaman
Huzuri. The repertoire of Kabul Afghan works of playwrights and translated
plays.
Those plays were
translated from the works of classical drama by Moliere, Shakespeare, Hugo,
Chekhov and others. In the intervals between the actions performed folk songs
and dances. Among the works of the Afghan drama staged plays by A. Karimi, A.
Kohzada, Mohammed Haidar, A. Breshna, G. Muhayuddina Ayoubi, A. Benawa, Ikhlas
A., R. Latifi, A. Pazhwak and others.
Among the prominent
actors in Afghanistan – M.A Raunak, Besadi, Aser, Mashal, Habib, Zhayla, Rana.
Performances are set as a theatrical troupe Women's Charitable Society and
amateur dramatic groups of educational institutions. In 1956 in Kabul, have
been set up a theater school where students receive music education, studied
acting, theater history and aesthetics.
In 1995- When the
country's national culture dies, the country is deprived of the roots of
spiritual progress. In Afghanistan, was just such a situation.
This was primarily due
to the political situation - the Taliban, the militant Islamists, led the
country to the fact that lots of population were illiterate - until 2001 in
Afghanistan, there weren’t open more schools.
After coming to power in
1995, the Taliban imposed a severe prohibition of any creative activity.
Theater and cinema, which are an integral part of the culture of any nation,
were razed to the ground, and any kind of art works came to be considered a
crime.
In 1978, in Afghanistan
lived seventeen million people. After the establishment of the Taliban regime
emigrated from the country of five million, accounting for almost one-third of
the Afghan population.
Among the migrants
turned most of the representatives of creative were professions.
Subjected to brutal
repression by the regime, many people that worked in theater and intellectuals
were forced to leave Afghanistan. Therefore, until recently, the Afghans had to
preserve and develop the national traditions and culture abroad.
Since 1995-2001, all
artistic and cultural infrastructure destroyed.
In 2001, Afghanistan
finally freed from the yoke of religious extremists. Currently, only one in
Kabul has several small theaters. In Kabul University was the Faculty of Arts,
which was first taught by the academic world program. After 2001 and the
interim government, the art was revived in Afghanistan. Cooperation with
foreign countries and domestic institutions, especially Kabul University
Faculty of Fine Arts Theatre Festival was held.
In fact, the festival
spirit brought back the body of dead Afghan theater.
Since 2003 - 2014 Eight
National Theatre Festival, a festival was held student. In the festivals of theater groups from
the provinces and the center of the country and even from foreign countries
participated.
These festivals
represents the development, promotion, theater and interested people to the
theater day by day become more and more.
It is optimistic for the
future of the Afghan theater. Because there is a faculty fine arts in Kabul
University that taught by academics. This means that the future of theatrical
art is in the safe hands of a new young generation of Afghanistan.
Reference:
1. Asad-llah.
TajZi Teacher (theater in Afghanistan from yesterday to today) 2010.
2. Mohammad Azim
Hosseinzade Professor (review the situation of theater in Afghanistan) 2003.
5. http://www.kotiposti.net/msaleha/nai شماره
نهم سال هفتم
عقرب 1388 / اکتر 2009