Egypt’s millennials act out their discontent on stage
With its earnest tone and simple production, the play “1980 W Enta Taleh” offers a glimpse into the turbulent lives of Egypt's young adults.
CAIRO — A simple white backdrop, two seats and four small wooden boxes make up the stage for “1980 W Enta Taleh,” (“1980 and Above”), a play about the lost dreams and daily challenges of the Egyptian youth born in the 1980s and 1990s.
The theatrical piece, 180 minutes long, was first performed in 2012 by the Studio el-Prova team in small theaters and garages used as art spaces in Cairo. Its popularity grew as word spread on social media, encouraging the theater group to perform it for a larger audience.
A three-hour version debuted in June this year, with a new script that includes current issues and sketches. Despite the Egyptian authorities' recent encroachment on freedom of expression, such as banning news sites and television programs criticizing the government, Egypt's Office of Censorship of Artistic Works authorized the play a year and a half ago.
In an interview with Al-Monitor, the play's director Mohamed Gabr said, “Our objective is to present a social play that depicts the daily life of the Egyptian people, not a political one opposing the government. We might be more daring than others, but we do not defame or insult any authority figure or political trend.”
