24 November 2017
The Chirac Foundation has awarded its Culture for Peace prize to the Zoukak Theatre Company (Lebanon) for its work in the dissemination of theatre as a means of therapy through art. Most recently, the theatre company has actively contributed, through theatre, to the rehabilitation efforts of the communities in the refugee camps in Lebanon. The award ceremony for the prize in its fourth edition took place in the Quai Branly Museum in Paris and was attended by French President Emanuel Macron.
The Zoukak Theatre Company was founded by the Lebanese actor and theatre director Omar Abi Azar in 2006. It was born from the desire of a group of artists to place the practice of theatre at the centre of social and political involvement and out of the faith in collective action as a means to fight marginalization.
Zoukak, which has participated in the 3rd round of Tandem Shaml program, has recently issued an open call to emerging theatre artists residing in Lebanon to take part in its Theatre Mentorship Program and Production Support Grant. The six-months program aims at developing the creative skills of emerging theatre makers through a continuous and thorough practice leading to a final performance or open studio.
Photo from L’orient Le Jour
