a theatrical play about the strength and courage of women, I Am Not a Vase is a celebration of women who refuse to be seen as vases – decorative and devoid of societal value.
seven performances staged in Arabic and Swedish in theatres across Lebanon and in Stockholm were attended by over 500 people in 2019. sharq.org is keen to collaborate with thespians worldwide to see it adapted and staged in other countries. if this is something you can help make happen, please get in touch.
WATCH A RECORDING of the 32 minute play
performed in Beirut [in Arabic] in
the sharq.org library of publications and films
the play was written based on stories shared by women and archived in the oral history collection Syrian Histories.
director, co-writer: Lina Abyad
co-writer: Madonna Adib
creative producer: Reem Maghribi
assistant producers: Pascale Jallouf, Mona Bibi
production partners: Firma Alexandra Sandels, the Swedish Institute
script translator (into Swedish): Lava Selo
staged in: Lebanon ad Sweden (2019)
cast (Lebanon): Amina Moussa, Samah Raslan, Halima Alhaj Ali, Rania Alali, Rahaf Ismail, Aya Malah, Adibe al-Ramadan, Pascale Jallouf, Tala Nachar
cast (Sweden): Nadia Alhaj, Lava Selo, Dalal Adi, Alexandra Sandels
sharq.org ran a series of theatre workshops for Syrian women living in Beirut’s Shatila camp in 2019. several workshop participants formed the cast of I Am Not A Vase, together with two Syrian drama students. in addition to learning about theatre, the cast convened to collectively explore and discuss patriarchy, gender discrimination and the #MeToo movement.
WATCH A RECORDING of the 32 minute play
performed in Beirut [in Arabic] in
the sharq.org library of publications and films
six performances were staged at different theatres and community centres in Beirut, Tyre and the Bekaa. a translation of the play was then read at a theatre in Stockholm by Syrian-Swedes. over 500 people attended the performances, all of which were followed by lively engaging discussions about the power and resilience of women and the value and impact of theatre.
project partners: The Swedish Institute, Alexandra Sandels, Amel, The Arab Institute for Women, the Lebanese American University, Laban Studio, Basmeh & Zeitooneh.
