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Born in Sharqiyah in 1939, Abdel-Rahman al-Shafei was the father of folklore arts. He introduced music, narration and chorus into the directorial process and was the first stage director in Egypt to put on a purely folkloric show to be watched by the general public. Al-Shafei's beginnings in the stage business were early in life. In his secondary education stage, he formed a folklore troupe which presented its shows in the mawaled (plural of mouled) (occasions observed by the public as holy). Al-Shafei graduated in Ain Shams University's Faculty of Law and later joined the International Theater Division. In 1963 he was put in charge of the Musical Troupe. He later formed al-Ghori Troupe and stage-directed such musicals as Yassin wa Baheya (Yassin and Baheya) ah ya leil ya amar (Oh Night, Oh Moon) Adham al-Sharqawi and sonbolet amh alla abr Gammal (A Shoot of Wheat on a Camel Man's Grave). Al-Shafei was appointed director to al-Samer Theater-House in September 1971 where he directed a number of folklore stories; e.g. Ali al-Zeibaq, Shafiqa and Matwali among other plays. Al-Shafei was keen on going to the public in their gathering places with his shows. By so-doing he developed a close relationship with his audiences. Awards In 1985: Received the State Incentive Award for stage directing al-Seira al-Hellaleya (The Life Story of the Hellalis). Key Achievements Yassin wa Baheya (Yassin and Baheya) Ah ya leil ya amar (Oh Night, Oh Moon) Adham al-Sharqawi Sonbolet amh alla abr Gammal (A Shoot of Wheat on a Camel Man's Grave) Ali al-Zeibaq
Shafiqa and Matwali |
