12 April 2014 MEDIA RELEASE – IMMEDIATE
PLAYWRIGHT AND POET AFEIF ISMAIL
OFF TO WASHINGTO DC AS INTERNATIONAL OBSERVER TO
NEW VISIONS/ NEW VOICES FESTIVAL.
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC has invited Afeif Ismail to participate in New Visions/New Voices Festival of Works in Progress for Young Audiences, from 12 - 19 May 2014.
Afeif Ismail was selected as one of the six International Playwriting Observers. During his week in Washington, he will attend rehearsals for eight projects in various stages of development; have a private meeting with a dramaturge; meet with the artistic teams; participate in round-table discussions; share a short 5-minute excerpt of his work at the Festival in Arabic, his first language, and meet United States producers, artistic directors and educators.
Afeif said, “I believe diversity creates dimension in our world. I see myself as a bridge between two cultures. As a student of life I’m sure I will learn many things from this experience. I look forward to exchanging knowledge and cultural experiences with all the other artists involved and this festival will enrich my creative abilities and enable me to continue my mission in life, which is writing.”
The Festival is a prestigious event with best-practice international theatre for young audiences, artists, and companies with performances, presentations and networking events. Afeif plans to meet and to build relationships with as many directors and producers as possible so he can increase opportunities for wider production of his work for young audiences, especially his plays The African Magician, and Son of the Nile.
The African Magician produced in 2010 by Barking Gecko Theatre Company in Western Australian and directed by Jeremy Rice, received rave reviews, rapturous audience responses and an Australian Writers’ Guild Award nomination. Critics described it as “engaging”, “faultless in tone” and “joyous”.
Afeif’s play Son of the Nile is a magical, hilarious and moving play set on the banks of the great River Nile in Sudan where the story is told by the River itself. Son of the Nile speaks of our contract with the earth, and also of the importance of honour and trust, and of keeping your word. “…Son of the Nile never becomes too heavy handed or moralistic; this play is simply a great helping of theatrical fun for all ages!” said director, Dr. David Moody.
Afeif is an internationally published poet and playwright. His career highlights include his work being presented at:
‘Write Local, Play Global’ (WLPG) Sparks: Catalyst for Discovery event at the SCHÄXPIR International Theatre Festival, Linz, Austria, 2013.
One Theater World Festival, Cleveland Ohio, USA, organized by WLPG, 2012
New York University’s International Forum on Which Way TYA? Future Directions in Theatre for Young Audiences at New York USA. 2011
Afeif’s plays produced in Perth include: Son of the Nile (dirs. David Moody and Tim Brain)
The African Magician (dir. Jeremy Rice). In 2011 The African Magician was nominated for Best Script for Children Theatre at the 44th Annual AWGIE Award 2011.
The Shrouds or the Dead was selected for the WA Theatre Development Initiative, 2009.
Afeif’s children play The Son of the Sun was selected for Playwriting Australia’s National Script Workshop, 2007.
Afeif was nominated for the Kit Denton Award for Courage in Writing (2007) and awarded the inaugural Playwriting Australia Bursary (2008).
Afeif collaborates with Perth writer and actor, Vivienne Glance, in a process they call transcreation. “This is an artistic reworking of a literal translation that aims to keep the cultural richness of the original language,” said Vivienne.
Vivienne and Afeif co-transcreate Afeif’s writing from Arabic to English. “I’m very fortunate to work with such a multi- talented artist as Vivienne. Her understanding of diversity and her desire to explore the possibilities of multi-cultural theatre are a great asset. Together we have been developing a working style that is a unique, cross-cultural experiment,” said Afeif.
Afeif will be at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, from Sunday 11- 19 May 2014. After the festival, Afeif will tour to Toronto and Hamilton in Canada, and Abu Dhabi and Doha in UAE, to launch his new books published in Arabic, titled: “Afeif Ismail: The Complete Poetry Collection” and his short stories, titled “Like a Light Sleeping in Distance.”
In the first week of June 2014 Afeif returns to Perth to join the final rehearsals of his trio of short plays 3 Seeds.
Jeremy Rice, who directed Afeif’s play The African Magician, is directing 3 Seeds at the Blue Room Theatre. Jeremy says, “Being invited to observe New Visions New Voices in Washington is a great endorsement of Afeif’s writing, and recognition of his contribution to our cultural diversity.” Jeremy finds Afeif’s writing to be both intensely political and very humorous. “We Anglo-Australians are sometimes assume that an artist like Afeif writes only in a folkloric tradition. In fact, Afeif’s inspirations include Samuel Beckett and Bertolt Brecht. Afeif’s theatre challenges and amuses us with wry observations on the absurdity of humankind. And I have found that this resonates just as much with young audiences as adults," Jeremy said.
“In these plays I’m re-imagining daily events in an aesthetic way. I’m breaking the boundaries between different art forms – to put them all into one present moment, “Afeif said.
3 Seeds will be presented in Perth at the Blue Room Theatre 17 June – 5 July 2014.
http://blueroom.org.au/events/3-seeds/