Nevine El-Aref speaks to the editor of the latest theatre publication The word on the street is that Masrahna (Our Theatre), a 32-page weekly tabloid, will hit the newsstands on 15 April. An initiative of Cultural Palaces head Ahmed Nawwar, Masrahna was approved by Culture Minister Farouk Hosni as an alternative to Al-Masrah (Theatre), the General Egyptian Book Organisation publication whose appearance has been frustratingly irregular. The second state-sponsored publication on theatre, to , its editor, Masrahna is the first weekly dedicated to theatre in the Arab world. Its brief is to offer high-quality theatre criticism -- aimed at critics, directors, stylists, students, playwrights -- in simple enough language to be accessible to the general readership. What is at stake is "a revival of the art of theatre", no less; and the idea is to generate interest among potential audiences. In fact, Hassaan says, Egypt enjoys a vibrant theatre scene in which the public is rarely involved for lack of publicity. With Al-Masrah no longer appearing more than once a year and few theatre pages in the newspapers, subject to being cancelled to make room for ads, a "mediator" like Masrahna is needed. Hassaan elaborated further: "We want Masrahna to incorporate all the different trends that make up the theatrical movement today, dealing with every aspect of a theatrical performance, from drama to lighting. We want it to engender a new generation of critics and playwrights -- by transmitting the latest in theatre worldwide in three ways: translating books and magazines about theatre, reviewing theatrical web sites and recruiting correspondents in foreign countries to provide monthly digests of the theatre there. Correspondents in Italy, Spain, France, Britain and Germany have been already recruited," Hassaan announces, "and we are in the process of locating stringers in Asia, Africa and Latin America. One of our objectives is to highlight those schools of theatre Arabs are not familiar with. Masrahna will be a window onto the world, building theatrical bridges between Egypt and other countries, and hopefully giving way to activity and debate." A poet (author of Qabla Nihayat Al-Mashhad -- Before the End of the Scene -- Saba' Khataya -- Seven Sins -- and Donia Qadima -- An Old World), Hassaan is also the critic in charge of art in the evening daily Al-Massaa, and he has been acclaimed for his style: informative, concise and infused with simple poetry. So popular is he in literary circles, and so wary of administrative work, that he has had to turn down several high-profile offers including that of being general secretary of the 2005 Egyptian Writers Conference. He is however highly active as an advocate of introducing the arts to as wide an audience base as possible in the most accessible ways -- "my obstinate determination". Thus, in addition to news, reports, critiques and reviews, Masrahna will include a department named "Theatre Trials", evaluating performances from particular standpoints: subject, set design, acting... It will also evaluate and profile serious and well-known artists in such fields, providing comprehensive biographies. There will be no nepotism whatsoever, he adds, with both choice of figures and assessments completely objective. This is, after all, a newspaper "for young talent" -- which it aims to hunt down through theatres, festivals, cultural palaces and clubs: " Masrahna will be their gateway into theatre." The same applies to young critics, whose work it will publish. Hassaan also plans to develop a taste for fine arts by publishing a scan of a classic painting on the front page every week. Preparations started four months ago and a "zero issue" has already appeared; it was available to those who went to the Alexandria Theatre Club Festival, and Hassaan says it will continue to be made available at such events after publication, accompanied by a free daily supplement. Readership concerns him less than quality, which he believes will draw in the readers: "Journalism is like art, a game of talent and proficiency. This is the game we must play to come up with a product that will draw in people, not just to entertain them but to provide them with information and refine their taste."
