Egyptian Puppets A Special Family Event

Our Shadows

Sunday, May 6, 2007

Bowker Auditorium   from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Adults $10; Children 12 and under $5

We, each and every one of us, cast a shadow. Can you tell by looking at that shadow who is Egyptian and who is American?

So asks Nabil Bahgat, founder of WAMDAH (pronounced wum-duh), an ensemble of young Egyptian theatre artists who have dedicated themselves to reviving (and re-imagining) a once-popular form of street puppetry. Featuring both shadow and hand puppets, this traditional art form is now almost extinct in their homeland.

 

Our Shadows is the result of a unique collaboration and the generous sharing of traditional Eygptian puppetry techniques between the WamDah artists and Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble. This bilingual work includes not only puppetry but storytelling theatre as well. By using a colorful Bedouin tent-inspired set and decorated with multifaceted faynouz (lanterns), the performance evokes a traditional village moulid (festival). Our Shadows features khayyal al zill (shadow puppetry), music, stick-dancing, tannura dances from rural Upper Egypt, storytelling about Egyptian folk heroes Ali Zaybak ("Ali Quicksilver," the Egyptian "Robin Hood"), Goha (the "Wise Fool" of the fellaheen, the farmer folk), and Aragoz (the rapscallion puppet)and up-to-the-minute commentary on the world we share. Performed in Arabic and English, this production is perfect family entertainment.

Don't miss this only local performance before the group heads off on their Egyptian Tour!

Co-sponsored by the Asian Arts & Culture Program and Center Series.

Recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Access to Artistic Excellence 2007 Grant Award.