Egyptian drama director Karima Bedair believes in women's freedom and her influential role in life, which she develops through works derived from her folk heritage and presented in a modern art form.
In her play, Bahia, Yassine and Bahia reintroduce a new vision of the love story that ended in a tragedy, in which she relied mainly on the actors' performance, rather than dialogue, and set her up with folkloric dances to international rhythms that combined Eastern and Western music.
The show lasts less than an hour and is presented by the Forsan Al Sharq Heritage Group of the Egyptian Opera House, starring Hani Hassan, Yasmin Samir Badawi, Islam Mohamed, Reza Rango, Noran Mohamed and Nader Gamal.
"The folklore is very rich and full of treasures that I hope will be reintroduced on the stage in a contemporary way to be accepted by the public," the director said yesterday after the play was screened at the Cairo International Festival for Contemporary and Experimental Theater.
She added «I try in my work to integrate the folklore and modern theater, and take advantage of all aspects, whether decoration, music or lighting, and has already made some work in this way».
Karima, who graduated at the Ballet Institute at the Academy of Arts, has previously directed the du'aa 'Al-Karawan, based on the story of the dean of Arabic literature Taha Hussein, and Na'isa, inspired by the folklore.
In May, her performance traveled to Jordan, where she won the Best Actress Award from the Free Theater Nights Festival. Last August, he participated in the National Festival of the Egyptian Theater, before he landed at the Republic Theater, the night before.
Along with the actors' graceful performance, décor and fashion, music played an influential role in Bahia's show, and was instrumental in moving and controlling events up and down.
"I have adopted the diversity of music accompanying the show," said Karima, who also produced the show's music.
“There are also passages of Indian music and perhaps this has caught the attention of some, but this was intentional because in my view music is a universal language that does not address a particular people or a particular country,” she said. He dropped it on us all, it is me, my sister, my mother, the village, the homeland or any country. ”
Bahia is one of two Egyptian performances in 20 Arab and foreign shows at the 26th Cairo International Festival for Contemporary and Experimental Theater, which began Tuesday and lasts until September 19.