The Ministry of Culture is breathing life into university theatre groups and seeking out new talent on campuses. Nevine El-Aref attended the launch of the Stars of University Theatre Project. Under the slogan “Return of the Spirit”, the Ministry of Culture launched a new project through the Cultural Development Fund (CDF) to revive university theatre troupes in an attempt to uncover fresh campus talent in different facets of theatre. University theatres, CDF director Khaled Galal asserted, played a very significant role in identifying well-known actors, set designers and directors in the last century. Among those were superstar Adel Imam and stars Mohamed Henedi and Khaled Saleh. Regretfully, however, in the last two decades the role of university theatre has declined, Galal went on to explain, something that drove the ministry to launch the University Theatre Stars project through the CDF. The project aims to rediscover new talented artists, train and present them to the industry. Galal says the present project too aims to encourage a taste for the high arts among the general public, fighting extremism in the process. “The absence of a quality theatre activities in universities and schools has helped a lot in promoting extremism among people,” he explains. He also pointed out that the project is to be implemented twice a year with the first round to be held in July. It includes theatre troupes from Cairo, Ain-Shams and Helwan (the Greater Cairo) universities as a first phase. If it proves a success participation will be made open to all universities across the country. According to the project's regulations, every group has to select a play from the classics of the Egyptian, Arab or international drama to produce with two-six actors in 45-60 minutes. Galal has also announced that the CDF will support the troupes until the competition in July through organising seminars, lectures and workshops where renowned actors and experts in theatre will be available to share their experience. In addition, the CDF will provide each troupe with LE2,500 towards sets, costumes and accessories. A jury of artists, critics and scholars will then select the ten shows to enter the competition, with the winning show given a scholarship at the Cairo Opera House Creativity Centre. Ahmed Wali, the director of the theatre troupe of the Faculty of Law at Cairo University, says he is very excited about the project, especially since the university had suspended all theatrical activities following the 2011 revolution. He feels the project will not only revive these troupes and bring new talent to the fore but also raise cultural interest among university students. This, he said, will indirectly raise awareness of culture among Egyptians as a whole. Senior intellectuals agree. Poet Mohamed Bahgat feels that this project will be an opportunity to discover such theatrical figures (and great actors) as Youssef Wahbi and Amina Rezk, who first performed on university stages. Author Mohamed Baghdadi says this is “a national project” from which all of Egypt will benefit both through positive awareness of theatre and the elimination of terrorism at its ideological roots among the young and the underprivileged.
