The eighth edition of Mishkal, Masrah al-Madina’s annual interdisciplinary arts festival, will return to the streets this Friday.
Running Aug. 30 to Sept. 3, the festival will stage a number of concerts, theater performances and roundtable discussions. This year’s theme, “#BadnaMashkela,” centers on human and artistic rights, with a nod to the Lebanese University.
“We chose to present our support this year to the Lebanese University and accordingly, we chose it to be our theme,” Mishkal artistic director Awad Awad said. “Keeping in mind all the difficulties it had endured and the basic human right to access free quality education, we decided to pay it tribute.
“Additionally, the entire festival aims to present through the performances effective ways of demanding one’s rights,” he added. “This will happen through incorporating various means of protesting for one’s demands, such as our own promenade play.”
Like previous years, Mishkal launches with a Hamra Street parade leading to the theater. The theatrics will continue before even getting to the stage, with a street performance, directed by Awad. It’s titled “Iza Al Sha’ab Yawman.” (If, one day, a people desires to live), borrowed from a work by Tunisian poet Abu al-Qasim al-Shabi.
“Starring a number of artists, the play will include 12 distinct opening scenes performed by each artist simultaneously in different cafes on Hamra Street,” Awad said. “The 15-minute acts will end with a protest lead by each performer to Masrah al-Madina, where the performance will conclude.”
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Among the performers are several well-known cultural figures, including Masrah al-Madina founder Nidal al-Ashkar, Mona al-Hallak, Joumana Haddad, Aliya al-Khalidi, Darine Chamseddine, Dima Mikhael Matta, Dana Dia, Nadra Assaf, Mira Sidawi, Mazen El Maouche, Maher Itani, Clown Me In and Ferket Al Qirab.
Following the parade, the festival will stage LU student Samer Hanna’s “Yamma Mia” - a Lebanese-Arabic musical adaptation of the Broadway hit “Mamma Mia!”
“This year’s productions are all created and presented by Lebanese students or new graduates,” Awad said. “Each day will present nine performances that range from music, theater, poetry readings, all the way to drag and comedy shows.”
Other highlights of the 2019 program include an improvised theater performance by Studio Laban called “The Movie” (Aug. 31), where the audience will suggest a film title for the actors to base a sketch upon.
Kamal “Kooks” Reda will deliver a dark standup comedy show on Sept. 3 and a set of short films will be screened daily.
“The roundtables will discuss important issues that are not often highlighted,” Awad said, “such as alternative media, the role of theater in prisons and the environment. Professionals and experts in the field will attend these roundtables.”
Mishkal ’19 will take place Aug. 30-Sept. 3 at Masrah al-Madina, Hamra. For more, see facebook.com/mishkalfest.
This article has been adapted from its original source.
