2016 Theses Master's

Egyptian Theatre and its Impact on Society: History, Deterioration, And Path For Rehabilitaition

Zohdi, Salma S.

Egypt is one of the oldest civilizations in the world, yet the lifespan of its theatre is rather short. It was not until the late 19th century that Egyptians were introduced to the disciplined form of theatre. Although the history of theatre in Egypt is short-lived, it had witnessed vigorous changes that lead to its rise and fall only within a few decades. Namely, those vigorous changes were the byproduct of the social and political movements that the Egyptian society underwent in less than a century. The Egyptian Theatre not only got affected by those political changes but also induced an integral influence on the Egyptian socio-political landscape, especially from the 50s until the mid- 70s. It was during those years that the Egyptian Theatre witnessed a golden age transitioning to a rapid phase of deterioration. Therefore, it was critically important to conduct an in-depth study towards finding means for reviving a theatre movement in Egypt. This is not only for the sake of reviving theatre as an art form but most importantly for theatre’s potential in contributing to the development of a more stable, literate and civil society, especially after two revolutions (January 25, 2011, and June 30, 2013.)