For centuries, the theatre stage has been viewed as more than just a performance space; it serves as a conduit that channels the people’s reflections of their surroundings and fosters engagement. Actors not only entertain audiences but also convey a multitude of beliefs and messages.
Students at Sultan Qaboos University take center stage in the conference hall, utilizing their theatrical abilities to address and engage with the humanitarian issues in Palestine. They reenact a play directed by Gaber Al-Harasi in 1999 at Sultan Qaboos University.
Theatre Society members perform "Strangers Do Not Have Coffee" and enhance it with modern means and capabilities. They select this play to express their sense of belonging and solidarity with the Palestinians, conveying their perspective on the ongoing conflict.
The theatrical elements effectively portray the students' expressions towards the Palestinians and depict the occupier and the cultural background of the Arab Palestinian people. Narrated from a cultural perspective, the play depicts a Palestinian man who embodies inner purity, unity, peace, and hospitality towards any stranger he encounters.
In this play, coffee symbolizes Arab Palestinian hospitality, offered to strangers arriving at the Palestinian man’s home. As the scene progresses, the true identities of these strangers gradually emerge. This revelation leads the man to a definitive conclusion: the strangers didn't drink the offered coffee because they were not guests.
As the plot unfolds, the truth about the strangers being the occupiers is revealed, reshaping the Palestinians' approach to them. Consequently, the conclusion implies that the man collaborates with his son to defend their home and resist any attempts to seize it.
Director Abdullah Al-Maskari expressed his pleasure in being part of this moment that embodies their efforts. "I was pleased to deliver our message spontaneously and to receive enthusiastic responses from the audience," Al-Maskari stressed, adding that this play serves as a starting point for future works. Additionally, the team expressed gratitude to all who supported them, mentioning Professor Raheema Al-Jabriya, the theatre society supervisor, and stage technicians.
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