Ali Alayan: The Jordanian Theater Faces New Opportunities for International Exchange and Partnership
Amman3 min read
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Directors and representatives of several international theater festivals discussed ways to develop cooperation, exchange performances and expertise during a professional meeting held on the sidelines of the Cairo International Festival for Experimental Theater, with the participation of representatives of festivals from Egypt, Bahrain, Tunisia, Iraq, Britain, the United States, France, Russia, and Jordan, represented by the International Free Theater Festival under the management of artist Ali Alayan.
Alayan said to«$» that the meeting allowed participants to directly learn about the nature of the participating festivals, their identities, programs, and artistic paths, emphasizing that the importance of the meeting lay in moving from acquaintance to searching for practical mechanisms for cooperation, exchanging performances, and building direct communication channels between the festival administrations.
He explained that the discussions addressed mechanisms for attracting performances and exchanging them according to the nature of each festival, its artistic identity, and the target audience, in addition to exchanging information related to available theatrical works, their artistic levels, and their technical needs, which helps in choosing suitable performances and facilitating hosting and travel procedures.
Alayan pointed out that the participants also discussed the importance of considering the specificity of the festivals and the difference in their orientations, whether they are experimental or traditional, and the nature of their theatrical spaces, noting that the clarity of these criteria can contribute to making the exchange of performances more effective and sustainable.
Regarding the challenges facing the festivals, he explained that the meeting discussed finding practical solutions to the problem of budgets and overcoming obstacles to hosting performances and the movement of troupes, while proposing the possibility of strengthening partnerships with European donor agencies to support cooperation and joint programs.
Alayan revealed reaching understandings with several international festivals, including the Avignon, St. Petersburg, Edinburgh, and Chicago festivals, with the aim of consolidating cooperation and exchanging theatrical performances.
He pointed out that these partnerships can allow the International Free Theater Festival to host international performances that match its identity and programs in its upcoming sessions, in parallel with the participation of the Free Theater Troupe and its new productions in several international festivals, which opens a path for presenting the Jordanian theatrical experience outside the Kingdom.
He stressed that the proposed cooperation is not limited to exchanging performances but also includes training workshops, artistic programs, and the exchange of expertise and information, emphasizing the importance of maintaining communication between festival administrations throughout the year and not limiting the relationship to the period of each festival's holding.
He pointed out that the presence of the International Free Theater Festival in this type of meeting allows it to learn about new experiences and build professional relationships with different festivals, as well as providing opportunities for the Jordanian theater to reach a new audience and theatrical spaces.
He said that the goal in the coming phase is to turn the communications that took place in Cairo into practical cooperation, whether through hosting international performances in Jordan or participating in Jordanian productions abroad, which enhances the movement of theatrical exchange and opens new opportunities for Jordanian troupes and artists.
The meeting was moderated by activist Mona Suleiman, with the participation of festival representatives, where each participant presented a brief overview of their festival and programs before moving on to discussing cooperation mechanisms, hosting performances, and exchanging expertise.
The meeting was part of the professional activities accompanying the Cairo International Festival for Experimental Theater, which, in addition to theatrical performances, provides a space for communication between those working in the Arab and international theater scene and exploring opportunities for cooperation and partnership.
