Fr | Ar

Mr. Abdullah ALKAFRI

Institute for Theater, Audiovisual and Cinematic Studies

Instructor

(+961) 1 421 000 ext 961768193 abdullah.alkafri1@usj.edu.lb

A playwright cultural activist, who works as a trainer in topics related to the field of culture with many organizations. He has taken part in many projects focusing on writing, particularly for theatre, organized by both Syrian international organizations, co-organized “Miniatures: A Month for Syria”, in collaboration with Shams Association in April 2013, “Agora: Platform for Theatre Labs”, in collaboration with Hananne Hajj Ali in January 2014, both of which took place in Beirut. A regular participant at conferences forums on culture art. He has also collaborated with art organizations such as Lift- The UK, the Lark- USA and the Royal Court- The UK. He has published and directed several plays, including Mrs Ghada’s Pain Threshold in Beirut, and was a member of the selection committee for Arab Contemporary Dramaturgy (organized by IEVP 2012) where he was entrusted with selecting nine Arabic texts to be published in French. He was also part of the project An Enemy of the People and Pillars of Society: the Tragedy of the Individual", produced by the Ibsen Conference in 2014 in Norway, in collaboration with Zoukak Theatre Company. Abdullah was awarded first place in the 19 th Mohammad Teymour Competition for Theatrical Creativity for his text “Damascus - Aleppo”, which was also shortlisted as a finalist in the BBC Competition for Best Translated Work in 2008. He is a founding member and Executive Manager of Ettijahat- Independent Culture. Abdullah graduated in Theatrical Studies from the High Institute of Dramatic Arts, Damascus, 2004 and completed his Master’s study and PhD at Saint Joseph University, Beirut.


DegreesUniversityCountryYear
فنون الأداء المستقلة في المنطقة العربية بوصفها منصةً للجديد مصر وسوريا ولبنان (2000- 2020)Saint Joseph University of BeirutLebanon2022
الخطاب في النص المسرحي السوري المعاصر:رواية الراهن وكتابة الذاتSaint Joseph University of BeirutLebanon2016
ضجيج ملون: نص مسرحيUniversité de DamasSyrie2007

Sociology of cultural production, theories of theater directing, playwriting

Experience in University Teaching Outside USJCountryInstitutionStart DateEnd Date
Social issues, journalism, Arabic language LebanonAmerican University of Beirut (AUB)03/01/201330/06/2015

Professional ExperienceOrganizationStart dateEnd date
Ettijahat - Independent Culture is a cultural organization founded at the end of 2011. Ettijahat seeks to activate and render the role of independent culture and arts more positive, in the process of cultural and social change. Ettijahat tries to achieve that by supporting artists and undertakers of cultural initiatives, enabling young researchers, working to build consensus and alliances between individuals and cultural institutions, promoting the arts and artists through regional and international platforms, and helping communities wherever they have access to culture and arts.Ettijahat - Independent Culture 01/04/201430/10/2024

Art, Humanities, Religious Sciences

Theatre studies, dramaturgy playwrighting, sociology of cultural production in the Arab world, cultural policy, cultural rights, cultural production planning, culture public space.

• Margin as an option, vulnerability against violence, No. 21 of Rerards – Institute for Theater, Audiovisual Cinematographic Studies, Department of HUMAN SOCIAL SCIENCES at St. Joseph University, November, Beirut, Lebanon 2019. • On Acre Sea Beirut Sky…. Alaa Mohammed and Al-Rafah Hassan in the book “And After”, which highlights testimonies of independent cultural artists and actors, written by more than 80 Syrian and non-Syrian independent artists and actors. Mamdouh Adwan Publishing and Distribution House, United Arab Emirates. 2018. • On the Margin’s Margin: Some Fragmented Thoughts on the Circumstances of Those who Make Art – in Perspectives Issue #15 – Unboxing the Game: The Obvious & the Obscure- The Heinrich Böll Foundation, Beirut, Lebanon 2018. • Writing and on-stage exercises, in the book entitled We Are Doomed to Hope: Writing in Theatre, Edited by Iyad Hasami, Dar AL Adab, Beirut, Lebanon 2013. • Homeland and art lost in migration highlighted in the book That’s what happened: Personal testimonies on the reality of the independent culture in the Arab region, Cairo, Egypt 2012.