The end of summer 2008 marked the end of the Kabyl Folktale Theater Project directed by Taous Claire Khazem and sponsored by ACAA.The Kabyl Folktale Theater Project was created to celebrate the rich oral tradition of Kabylia by combining theatrical performance with Kabyl folktales (timucuha). Young Kabyl women from the region of Bgayet created a theatre rooted in Kabyl folktales.

The project lasted approximately three months but Taous arrived in the Kabyl capital Tizi-Ouzou in mid-May 2008 to visit family and friends and plan her project. During her first week she already started asking her relatives for folktales. 

Challenges

Arrived in Bgayet, Taous met numerous challenges. One of these challenges is lodging. In Bgayet, rent is very high during the summer months. In fact it is as high as in any major American city. Through ACAA and friends, Taous managed to find a place where to stay. The other major challenge is finding the right candidates for this project. An ad was posted at the City Universitaire with the help of Beza Bencheikh. Taous planned to audition young candidates from highschool but it was not easy as by the time she got there all highschools were closed for the summer vacation. Finally Taous settled with seven candidates who previously worked with Bgayet Regional Theatre Director Omar Fetmouche on another show. The seven recruits will go through the full training and take part in the final performance. For Taous it was not an easy task but she was prepared.

Training and Folktale Selection

It’s the beginning of July and for about a week actresses and director hit the road and scoured the surrounding villages to collect as many folktales as possible. They talked to relatives and friends with knowledge of old Kabyl tales. Director Khazem and her students selected three folktales each telling about the life of a different woman. The tales were all about the courage, the life struggles and the role of women in Amazigh society. The young actresses would end up learning a life lesson while experiencing the joy of theater as well as through the stories themselves.

Ø  The first tale was about the seven sisters and the ogress. The youngest of the sisters would be the one to read through the ogress’s monstrous plans and save the day.

Ø  The second tale was about a girl who was buried alive by her family. She had eaten a snake egg that hatched in her belly. Saved by a stranger, she came back to haunt her mean step-mother and redeem her father.

Ø  A man swore to marry the girl whose hair he found at a fountain. The girl’s name was Drima and she unfortunately was his own sister. 

During the same month, the aspiring actresses explored different styles of play, improvisation and creating scenes and characters. Then came the time to write the dialogues, learn and rehearse them. To challenge the actresses, Director Khazem brought in an audience several times in order to prepare them for the final performance.

Performances  

The actors performed four times: twice at the Bgayet Theatre Regionale, once at the Maison de la Culture of Ait-Smail, and another time at the Maison de la Culture of Bgayet.

Conclusion

This project was the first of its kind for ACAA. ACAA is very grateful to Taous for putting it together and working very hard to see it through. ACAA is very grateful to many other people, members and non-members, who contributed financially or otherwise to this project. Special thanks to Bgayet regional theatre director Omar Fetmouche, Mohand Ameziane Bencheikh, Amor Nouri, MAK Sweden, Nora Cheddad, Nordine Saidi, the Adel Family, Lyazid Abdi, and Samira and Ghania Challali. Last but not least let’s us thank our seven participants who sacrificed their summer vacation and worked hard and performed beautifully.

Many lessons have been learned from this project both for Taous and for ACAA. According to Taous, more effort and time should be devoted to recruiting. Certainly, more housing does require a larger budget in cities like Bgayet where rent skyrockets during the summer months. Another area that may need additional attention in the future is a stipend for actors to increase motivation and help during recruiting. 

Overall the project was a success. The goals set for the project were achieved despite the many challenges. Taous and her actresses created a new style of theater in Kabylia that is rooted in the Amazigh tradition and values.

More Info (Coming soon... Please visit the projects section)

1)    Kabyl tales used in this project

2)    Photos

3)    Clip from the show

4) Taous Khazem's project blog

5)    Algerian newspaper clips about the project

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