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L'Art Rue
Workshop on Documentary Theater How to Avoid Apathy: The Unavoidable Politics of Making Documentary Theater
The workshop will be led by Laila Soliman, in collaboration with Bissane Alcharif, along with other guest lecturers.
This workshop explores research as a foundation for creating documentary theater.
Participants will engage in developing their personal sense of urgency in response to the world around them. Rather than treating documentary theater as a rigid form, this workshop approaches it as a flexible technique—a process that involves gathering primary sources, conducting interviews, and integrating diverse materials to craft a central narrative and visual performance. Through collective and individual exercises, participants will investigate different starting points for research-based performance and explore how form and content interact in creative storytelling.
from June 30th until July 11th
L'Art Rue
Tunis
Registration deadline
11-06-2025
Key questions to be explored include:
- What is the nature of documentary material?
- How do we select and organize content?
- What theatrical idioms best convey the material?
- How do space and audience shape the performance?
- What is the performer’s role and presence?
- How do ethical and political considerations inform the work?
Workshop Objectives
By the end of this workshop, participants will:
- Gain an understanding of documentary theater, its challenges, and possibilities, while deepening awareness of self and context.
- Develop skills in gathering and researching materials as a creative process, and learn how research can be transformed into performance.
- Practice interview techniques with attention to ethics, sensitivity, and collaborative engagement.
- Experiment with staging scenes in theatrical spaces or creating performative installations, expanding their creativity while addressing serious themes.
Eligibility Criteria :
This program is open to 12 emerging artists and performers working in theater and performance arts who meet the following criteria:
- Reside in Tunisia.
- Have strong proficiency in both Arabic and English.
- Are available full-time for the entire duration of the workshop.
- Demonstrate motivation and commitment to the workshop’s objectives.
- Have prior professional experience in performance and/or theater.
Participants are expected to foster a respectful, sensitive, and supportive environment. Any behavior that disrupts the learning experience will impact participation.
Workshop Format and Duration :
Participants will engage in research, reading, exercises, and shared presentations of their work, followed by group reflection using affirmative peer feedback methods. Practical exercises will help participants apply research to performance creation. They will also present concepts for new projects developed during the workshop.
The workshop includes:
- Practical exercises and creative tasks.
- Collective reflection and peer discussions.
- Several guest lectures and specialized workshops throughout the two-week duration.
The workshop will take place in Tunis for two weeks from June 30th until July 11th.
Application process and Training Coverage :
If the eligibility criteria are met, candidates are encouraged to submit their application by filling out the form at the link below.
A training scholarship will be granted to selected participants.
For those coming from regions within Tunisia, accommodation will also be provided.Transportation costs will be reimbursed for participants coming from Tunisian regions, upon presentation of the required documents.
Selection Process
The selection of candidates will take place in two stages:
- First stage: A pre-selection based on the application file will be conducted for all submissions.
- Second stage: Candidates shortlisted in the first stage will be invited to an online interview before a selection committee.
For more information, please send us an email at massari@lartrue.org
Speakers / Trainers
The workshop will be led by Laila Soliman, in collaboration with Bissane Alcharif, along with other guest lecturers.
Laila Soliman is an independent Egyptian theatre director and playwright based in Cairo. Trained at the American University in Cairo and DasArts in Amsterdam, her work explores the socio-political landscape through collective memory and personal histories.Her pieces have been presented across the Arab region, Africa, Europe, and India. Notable works include Zigzig (2016), Museum of Lungs (2018), Wanaset Yodit (2020), and her award-winning opera Woman at Point 0 (2022), currently on international tour.She was Artist in Residence and Visiting Associate Professor at NYU Abu Dhabi (2022–2024), and her texts have been published by Nick Hern Books and Theater der Zeit. She is currently developing her next project, Story of..., premiering in November 2025.