Body, Theatricality and the Creative Space

In September 2009 I had the opportunity to attend the IMPACT Festival organized by the MT Space Theatre in Kitchener, Ontario. There I attended the dress rehearsal of “The last 15 seconds” directed by Majdi Bou-Matar, one of the best productions I have seen in a long time. The Waterloo Region Record review of The Last 15 Seconds says: “...riveting...” “...essential art for our day...”& “...highest standard in theatre arts.” I was determined to invite Majdi to conduct a workshop in Victoria, so that here we could have the opportunity of working with this interesting artist. Fortunately, the project has become a reality! To make things better, we can combine his workshop here with our popular play reading series “Worldplay”. Do not miss this opportunity!
                                                                                             ~ Lina de Guevara, Artistic Director of PUENTE Theatre

Body, Theatricality and the Creative Space by Majdi Bou-Matar

This workshop focuses on the body presence, movements and actions within the creative space. It explores how the collective physical presence and interaction on stage can lead into powerful theatricality. It looks at how the idea develops, alongside emotion and movement to achieve a creative moment. Starting from simple improvised everyday gestures and actions the workshop will lead participants to move beyond the usual into unexplored ways of body expression.

The workshop will be connected with our Worldplay Series of staged reading. On Sunday February 7 we have programmed the reading of the play “The Person” by Egyptian writer Alfred Farag. Following the reading, participants will show a scene developed in the workshop and inspired by this play.
When: Friday, February 5 from 7 to 10 PM.
Saturday, February 6 from 9.30 AM to 5 PM.
Sunday, February 7 from 9.30 Am to 5 PM.

Majdi Bou-Matar ~ Artist Biographical Info
Majdi Bou-Matar is a theatre director and performer who immigrated to Canada from Lebanon in 2003. He holds an MA degree in Drama from the University of Guelph with research focus on Canadian intercultural theatre. Majdi has directed several productions in Beirut and has been an active participant in several theatre, television, and film projects in the Middle East and Tunisia. Majdi represented his country of origin, in Le Centre Arabo-Africain de Formation et de Recherches Theatrales (CAAFRT) where he gained broad experience with and passion for the intercultural aspects of theatre. An active member of the arts community in Waterloo Region, Majdi founded The MT Space (the Multicultural Theatre Space) in 2004.
In Beirut, Majdi’s directing portfolio includes: Nijinsky: the Hour of his Wedding to the Lord (1997); Miss Julie (1999); Something Like Macbeth (2000). In Canada, he has directed for The MT Space: Three-Legged Horse (04-05), Seasons of Immigration (2006), Yes or NO! (2007), Exit Strategy (2008), and The Last 15 Seconds (2009). He is currently the Artistic Director of the IMPACT 09 theatre festival, hosted by the MT Space.  www.mtspace.ca