The cleanup operation, Mousa asserts, will resurrect the souls of artists and musicians, “as their souls migrate through time. They hold the key to our understanding of ourselves, and it is incumbent upon us all to participate in this cultural effort.”
The first theatre play, directed by Iraqi playwright and actor Sami Abdel-Hamid, is set to begin this week.
The neighbourhood of Salihiya where Al Rashid is located is generally considered safe, with no recent history of suicide blasts. But against Iraq’s violent backdrop, there is nothing to guarantee the theatre's security, not for the building or the lives of those it may attract. Mousa insists that the situation in Iraq is better today than in preceding years. “Iraqis have become accustomed to risks...this is partly down to the increase of security measures and security forces around the capital”.
The years the site was derelict reflects a lack of state concern for the arts in Iraq. The current security crisis means that local arts and culture must remain on the back burner. Yet Iraq's creative minds are defying expectations. Defiance is not limited to the streets of Baghdad where thousands have been protesting for the past five months. The resurrection of the Al Rashid demonstrates how theatre, and the arts more generally, empower Iraqis – allowing them to respond meaningfully to their situation.
Comments are closed.