A rendezvous with Lebanese theatre in Marjayoun

Famous Lebanese actor, Nidal al-Ashqar, gives a theatre workshop for young actors at Marjayoun’s National College.

Nidal al-Ashqar, the respected Lebanese actor encourages young students to show their emotions.

UNIFIL supports the youth in the south of Lebanon by giving them access to vocational and cultural activities such as this theatre workshop.

The theatre workshop, coordinated by UNIFIL, included all kinds of acting techniques like facial expression, breathing, voice control and body language.

Voice training and singing was a key element of this workshop given by Nidal al-Ashqar and coordinated by UNIFIL.

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15 Sep 2016

A rendezvous with Lebanese theatre in Marjayoun

One of July mornings was a little different for some 16 students of National College in Marjayoun, south-eastern Lebanon.  They had gathered at the College’s main hall in a circle, one time humming to hone their vocalism, and another time warming up and applying breathing techniques in their attempt to relax and flex their facial expressions.

The atmosphere sounded like a beehive. The students’ eyes were gazing with excitement seeing what was going around, while at the same time following instructions from the renowned Lebanese theatre actors Nidal al-Ashqar and Dr. Mona Kniou, and Lebanese artist Khalid Abdallah.

Zeal and team spirit topped the general atmosphere during the theatre workshop, organized at the college by UNIFIL’s civil affairs officers.

Students did not only learn the art of acting but also learned how to express their thoughts, widen their imagination, and be creative and confident.

Speaking about her “nice mission in south Lebanon”, Ms. al-Ashqar pointed said, “Our mission today is to train the young generation on the art of acting and demonstrate the importance of this profession.”

One of the participants, 16-year-old Charbel Bahri, said, “The various activities we applied today taught us how to stand on the stage and talk to audience and people with confidence.”

UNIFIL’s Civil Affairs Officer Edward Tawil said the workshop offered the young people of south Lebanon an opportunity “to interact with the Lebanese cultural figures and benefit from the experience of renowned Lebanese artists.”

During the workshop, students stood on the stage expressing their emotions like they never did before; they were there applying the techniques they learned – putting their concerns aside, making their mind free, and convincing their audience of the power of their thoughts.

UNIFIL attaches great importance to relations with the local population among whom the peacekeepers operate. One of several facets to this relationship is to provide or facilitate assistance to the extent possible. Such interactions with the communities are regularly conducted at every level.

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Article: Hiba Monzer
Video Editor: Mohamad Hamze, Suzane Badereddine
Video Camera: Mohamad Hamze, Ghifar Charafeddine
Photo: Pasqual Gorriz
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