Women acting on stage and in plays face gender stereotypes all around the world.  Tunisian female theater players seem determined to break these stereotypes and support women's rights with their projects and plays that they take part in.

ZOUHOUR MECHERGUI

Tunisia- Women acting on stage and plays face gender stereotypes all around the world.  Tunisian female theater players seem determined to break these stereotypes and support women's rights with their projects and plays that they take part in. We spoke to Tunisian theater player Ghofran Al-Sayari about the history of theatre and women’s roles. Stating that women have played an important role in theatre since the first theatre association was founded in 1910; Ghofran Al-Sayari recalled that the theatre plays written by women were begun to be played in the 1950s.

Tunisian women have been on the stage for a century

Stating that many Tunisian women played an important role in the development of Tunisian theatre, Ghofran Al-Sayari said, “Jalila Bakkar, Raja Ben Ammar, Zouhaira Ben Ammar, Wajiha Jendoubi, Leila Chebbi, Mouna Noureddine, Khadija Souissi, Dalenda Abdou, Khadija Ben Arfa, Salwa Mohamed are some of them. Tunisian women have been on the stage for a century.”

Stating that after the revolution that took place in Tunisia in 2011, women actresses began to achieve success against the images of women in theatre, Ghofran Al-Sayari said, “We still struggle against the images of women in film and theatre. Tunisian women have pulled themselves up by their own bootstraps in theatre and they have made a revolution in theatre. The number of women in theatre has been increasing in Tunisia.”

Sabah Mosbah: Give me a theater stage; I will give you back a stage filling with rebellious women

Sociologist, feminist, and theatrical activist Saba Mosbah drew attention to the importance of feminist theater in Tunisia. “Give me a theater stage, I will give you back a stage filing with rebellious women,” she said, “Women are powerful on the stage and they can break the gender stereotypes of patriarchal society on the stage. The presence of women in the theater is important to overcome the challenges faced by women. Many women take to the stage now. In many provinces, women of all ages exhibit their presence in the theatre. They speak out against social problems on the stage.”

Theater instructor Huda Al-Issawi stated that women's ‘modest presence’ has existed on the theater stages since the last century. “Women work as designers, theatre players, and costume designers set decorators. I have had a great experience over years as a theatre instructor. The will and experience of women should not be underestimated,” she told us.

Journalist Hanan Mabrouk confirmed that the presence of women and their issues in Tunisian theater has become clear for decades. We want to watch more theatre plays on women’s issues, freedom, and rights. The plays should include social messages, women's issues, gender-based violence, and women’s freedom.”