Dramatic revival for women's theatre
Actresses will get a chance to shine in national arts festival
Three years ago, Naseeba Ghulam Mohammed was not even allowed to go to school.
Today she is busy in the northern city of Kunduz rehearsing a play by an all-girl theatre group on the tyranny of the Taleban, who banned female education. The play is for a national theatre festival due to begin in Kabul next month.
Even though Afghan society remains highly conservative and still frowns upon women participating in theatre, the precocious 16-year-old has already directed, written or acted in 15 short plays for Kunduz's German-sponsored Mediothek Girls' Theatre - testimony to the changing situation of women in the new Afghanistan.
'To those people who want to keep us away from the stage, I say: 'You have no right to interfere',' said Naseeba. 'In Afghanistan today, men and women are equal. Women are also struggling to achieve their rights.'
It is no longer a problem for women to get an education or a job. But radical Islamists still object to women appearing on the stage, especially alongside men. At the university in Jalalabad earlier this year, about 15 young men stormed a play by a Kabul theatre group, smashed musical instruments and the sound system, and injured some actors. 'They were all Taleban boys,' said veteran actress Husna Tanha, still nursing a hand injury from the incident.
Would-be actresses have faced problems ever since modern theatre was introduced to Afghanistan 100 years ago. If a woman takes to the stage, cinema or television, she can be disowned by her family. Some actresses change their names, many remain unmarried.
The revival of theatre in Afghanistan and the creation of a unique women's theatre is being spearheaded by a 34-year-old Afghan-German, Julia Afifi.
Supported by Germany's Goethe Institute, Afifi is directing several plays at the drama department of Kabul University, which is functioning again after a long closure.
She acknowledged it is a struggle to find actresses. Most women tend to drop out after objections from their families. When Afifi produced Antigone, the Greek heroine was played by a young man fully covered in a veil. 'But things are changing, even if gradually,' she said.
'Women will feature in many of the 49 productions from all over the country at the eight-day national theatre festival which begins on November 27.'
A full day at the national festival will be devoted to women's productions. There will also be a discussion on women and the stage. 'Most students are unhappy with the present situation,' said Afifi. 'They want change.'
