NAZIHA BOUSSIDI

Tunisia- Tunisian theater player and director Amina Dachraoui thinks theatre plays an important role in highlighting women's issues. In her works, she aims to raise awareness of her society about gender equality.

When she stayed in Tataouine, a city in southern Tunisia, she listened to many women victims of sexual harassment. “Sexual harassment affects women both psychologically and socially. They prefer to keep silent because there is no one to support them and stand by them,” she said.

‘Theatre should highlight women’s issues’

Amina Dachraoui believes that theatre has a duty of highlighting women’s issues. Speaking about the theatre play directed by her and produced by the Drama and Scenic Arts Center of Tataouine (French: Le Centre des arts dramatiques et scéniques de Tataouine), she said, “Chaâla is a young university student.  She is a victim of sexual harassment by one of her professors but she refuses to remain silent and exposes the perpetrator. One day, she enters the room of the professor and records their entire conversation by using her smartphone. Women are subjected to all forms of violence everywhere due to the patriarchal mentality. The universities are also the places where female students are subjected to violence and sexual harassment.”

‘I still face difficulties’

 Speaking about the challenges faced by her in the theatre sector, Amina Dachraoui said, “When we talk about the theatre sector, we talk about a noble sector. What made this sector deviate from its goals is that some people in this sector believe that material profits are important. When they gain strength in this sector, they think that they will achieve some political goals through it. I have faced many difficulties and still face them. Although I make great efforts to prove myself in this sector, I still face a kind of hostility from a number of male theatre directors. Despite all the difficulties, it is a great honor for me to be a woman among the playwrights and directors in Tunisia.”

‘It tells the sufferings of Palestinian women’

Amina Dachraoui has acted in 12 theatre plays and directed four theatre plays until now. “I acted in a theatre play named ‘A woman’ with Tunisian actress Zahira Ben Ammar when I was in my twenties. I am honored to have worked with her. Thanks to her, this theatre play was staged inside and outside of Tunisia. I also acted in the theatre play named ‘Trouf’, which will be performed in London. The play tells the sufferings of Palestinian women.”

 She has directed four theatre plays

Speaking about the theatre plays directed by her, she said, “The first theatre play directed by me was ‘A Summer Night's Dream’.” Talking about the role of women in the theatre sector, Amina Dachraoui said, “The number of women in this sector is insufficient because the women wanting to choose a career in cinema and theatre sectors face obstacles. We need more women actors, writers and directors in Tunisia to highlight women's issues.”