In IDP camps, Afrin dramatists insist on the continuation of the 4th Mitan theatrical festival
Northern Aleppo – North-Press Agency
Dijla Khalil
Culture and Art Movement of Afrin is preparing to start the 4th season of “Mitan Theatrical Festival”, which is scheduled to start in December in IDP camps in the northern countryside of Aleppo after a two-year suspension, due to the Turkish and its backed armed groups offensive on the Syrian-Kurdish region of Afrin, in 2018.
Mitan Theatrical Festival, which started its first season in 2014 in the city of Afrin, is the first theatrical festival to be launched at the level of northern Syria (Rojava) since the announcement of the Democratic Autonomous Administration in northern Syria.
In a special statement to North-Press, director Muhyiddin Arslan, who is one of the founders of Mitan festival said that: "This season will be outside the city of Afrin, where its people have been displaced to the northern countryside of Aleppo after the Turkish military invasion.” He added: "After the forced displacement of the people from Afrin, we became more convinced of the slogan of the festival: (We plant hope and life). And we had to start again and insist on reviving the theatrical and cultural movement.”
After the armed opposition groups with Turkish support entered the region of Afrin and looted the Cultural Center in the city, Arslan stated that they are preparing a new stage in IDP camps in the northern countryside of Aleppo, saying: "On one side of Sardam camp for Afrin IDPs, a tent was prepared resembling a small stage for the theatrical groups to train on and show their works.”
He stated the festival's management received many texts from outside and inside Syria, many bands contacted them presenting their participation, but the conditions experienced in Syria and in northern Syria have hindered the participation of many of them, pointing out that they invited bands from other Syrian governorates in particular to participate in the festival in order to be a platform for cultural dialogue in Syria.
On the other hand, actress Zeinab Mohammad said that this season is witnessing diversity, where it is based on the embodiment of the political, social and economic concerns of the society and it is presented in both Kurdish and Arabic.
The dramatist, Salam Ibou said that their goal for by the launch of the 4th festival of Mitan is to create another generation of dramatists, actors and artistic cadres, in addition to highlight the black spots suffered by the society.
Ibou concluded that, the Kurdish people love life and cannot be deprived of their rights. Launching the theatrical festival from inside IDP camps is the biggest proof of this.