The Cairo international festival for experimental theatre

A distinguished playwright and theatre director and playwright. She collaborated with the renowned German Playwright writer Heiner Muller. As a director of the new European drama, she worked in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Austria

One of the most well-known actors and directors in the contemporary French theatre. He has also taken part in many movies and TV series.

Karen Fricker	Ireland	Chair
Edward Wojtaszek	Poland
Thomas Engel	Germany
Refaat Asaad Trabeyya	Lebanon
Susan Carlson	USA
Essam Al-Sayyed	Egypt
Carlos Canales	Puerto Rico
Leila A.Kurashinova	Russia
Marie Kruger	South Africa
Marina Raffanini	Italy
Herve Van Der Meulen	France

- Has worked as a theatre critic and correspondent for many newspapers. Among them are: The Guardian (2001 – present), Variety (October 1997 – present), The Sunday Tribune (2001 – present) and The Irish Times (2001 – present).

- Senior Editor of Stagebill magazine (1995) and Editor-in-Chief in the Irish Theatre magazine (1998 – present),

- Assistant lecturer at the Drama Studies Centre, University College Dublin (2000 – 2001). She has also taught at the School of Drama, Trinity College, Dublin and she is a frequent guest lecturer on Contemporary Irish Theatre and theatre criticism at the National University of Ireland, Calway, the National University of Ireland, Cork and Queen’s University, Belfast.

-Has written a number of articles on theatre and criticism. Among them are: “Robert Lepage: PRODUCT OF QUEBEC,” Travelling Without Moving: True Lines and Contemporary Irish Theatre Practice,” “Tourism, The Festival Marketplace, and Robert Lepage’s The Seven Streams of the River Ota.”

-Studied at L’Institut d’Etudes Théâtrales in Paris III Sorbonne Nouvelle (1972 – 1976) and at the Department of Directing, l’Ecole Nationale Supérieur de Théâtre de Varsovie (1977 – 1981).

-Artistic director of Pracownia…Theatre (Atelier…THEATRE), a theatre company working in Varsovie and presenting its performances in Poland and throughout Europe (1983 – 1992).

- Has taught at several universities and institutes such as l’Academie Théâtrales in Varsovie, l’ Institut Supérieur d’Art Dramatique et d’animation Culturelle – Rabat, Morocco and Aacdemie des Beaux Arts de Varsovie.

- Co-organizer of le Festival International des Ecoles de Théâtre in Varsovie.

- Studied theatre arts at Humboldt University in Berlin and got his PhD in 1988.

- Joined the German ITI Centre in 1988 and has occupied several posts there; he has been its Executive Director since 2003.

- Has taken part in various international conferences and seminars and has lectured in many countries.

- Has published several program books, playbills and newspaper articles such as: “German Theatre” in Fikrun wa Fann, a Magazine for the Arab World published in Bonn and “The Theatre of Konstanze Lauterbach” in Western Europe Stages, New York, Vol 7/No. 3, 1996.

- One of the pioneers of the Lebanese theatre. He has played the leading roles in various plays such as Jesus (1973), Hamlet (1974), Caligula (1974), Dakar al-Nahl (Male Bee) (1981), Sanea al-Ahlaam (Dreams Maker) (1983) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2003).

- Has directed a number of plays. Among them are: Al-Magoos al-Rabea (1978) and Le Chat (2004).

- Chair of the Department of Theatre at al-Kafa’aat University and lecturer of drama at the AUT.

- Has participated in several festivals such as the Theatre Festival in Baghdad (Iraq), Carthage days (Tunisia) and the Cairo International Festival for Experimental Theatre (Egypt).

- Founding member of Charles Ludlam’s Ridiculous Theatrical Company (1970 – 1987).

- Has played the leading roles in several productions. Among them are: King Lear (1989), Lear (1990), The Flood (1991), The Kitchen (1993), The Bribe (1994 – 1995), Chang in a Void Moon (1996), Tartuffe (2001), Kiss Shot (2003), Alone Together (2004) and La Vie Noir (2007).

- Has taken part in a number of movies such as Black Maria (1987) and Black-Eyed Susan: Portrait of an Actress (1990).

- Obtained the OBIE award for Sustained Achievement of Performance in Ridiculous Theatrical Company (1987) and the Villager Award for Secret Lives of the Sexes (1983) and The Ventriloquist’s Wife (1979).

- Received a BA in English and studied at the Higher Institute of Art Criticism.

- Has worked as a theatre director at the Egyptian National Theater, and also worked as director of the Comic Theatre.

- Supervisor of theatrical production at the Production Sector in the Egyptian Radio and TV Union.

- Directed the sound track of a number of animated movies produced by Walt Disney. Among them are: Lion King, Hercules and Pinocchio.

- Has written several reviews and theatre studies published in many journals and magazines such as Akher Saa and Teatro.

- His play Ahlan Ya Bakawaat (Hey Beys) has won the Best Play Award in the 1st National Theatre Festival in 2006.

- Has received a number of awards and has been paid tribute by such institutions as the Ministry of Information in 2003 and Horriyati magazine in 2005.

- Has taken part in about twenty festivals in Latin America, the U.S.A and Europe.

- Has conducted ten theatrical workshops held in several universities and international festivals throughout Europe.

- Has been teaching theatre for fourteen years. He has also published several studies and articles on theatre.

- Has written a number of plays produced by theatrical companies in Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Peru and Argentina.

- Has obtained a number of awards for his achievements in directing and writing reviews.

- Co-producer of the experimental theatre festival “New Drama” held in Moscow.

- After graduating from school in 1981, she joined the State Institute of Dramatic Art (GITIS), the department of specialists in drama study.

- Teacher of art history at the Arts School headed by Kazarnovsky (1990 – 1992).

- Founded in 1999 a theatre experimental youth company “LEKUR” which organized in the same year the youth festival “Theatre Stars XXI” for experimental performances.

- Has put to stage a number of performances. Among them are: Who Is the Last in the Queue for Love? (2000), A Mousetrap (2001), A White Knight (2004) and Moscow Divorce (2006).

- Obtained the Lomonosov’s Order for her considerable contribution to culture and art in 2003 from the Russian Federation of Public Awards.

- Studied drama and directing theories, mime, puppets, acting and makeup at the University of Stellenbosch from which she had received a BA in 1981, an MA in 1983 and a PhD in 1997.

- Director of Matie Puppet Theatre at the Drama Department, University of Stellenbosch since 1983.

- Director and compiler of 15 different stage productions with drama students since 1981.

- Director and compiler for a number of professional story theatre productions.

- Director of experimental and adult puppet shows done by drama students as part of Performance Studies.

- Director, compiler, production designer for Youth and Puppet Productions Company for touring productions.

- Has written a number of books and articles on puppetry, masks and youth theatre.

- Has taken part in several international festivals in South Africa, Greece and the UK.

- Has visited many departments of drama at international universities in the UK, France, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Croatia and Spain.

-Received the Rector’s award for Excellent Teaching, University of Stellenbosch (2004) and the National Research Foundation award to finance research project on the use of puppets in Africa (2004 – 2007).

- Worked until 1976 as assistant director of Giorgio Srehler, Luigi Squarzina, Roberto Guicciardini, Armando Pugliese, and other renowned directors.

- Organized and promoted the contemporary “Teatro Tenda” in Rome (1979 – 1985), working with Roberto Benigni, Dario Fo, Maecel Marceau, and the “Centro Ateneo Theatre” with Eduardo, Jerzy Grotowski and Peter Brook.

- Worked for the Andres Neumann International in Rome, one of the most famous international companies for promoting cultural exchanges and organized tours in Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Austria, the U.S.A and Mexico.

- Organized the Andreas Neumann International participation in sao Paolo International Festival in Brazil (1992 – 1994).

- Responsible for the program of contemporary performances of the “Il Vascillo” Theatre in Rome (2000 – present).

- Played the leading roles in many plays by Shakespeare, Moliere, Racine, Marivaux, Voltaire, Goldoni, Dumas, Anouilh, Wesker and other renowned playwrights.

- Worked as assistant director of Jean Danet at Treteaux de France and of Yves Gasc for the Laurent Terzieff company and at la Comedie Francaise.

Teacher of dramatic art at such institutions as le Centre National Dramatique du Nord-Pas-de-Calais and l’Ecole of Studio.