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Beyond the Mirror, the 1st US-Afghan Thatre Collaboration, Comes to NY, Nov. 20-Dec. 4

By: Oct. 06, 2005
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The Bond Street Theatre of NY and Exile Theatre of Kabul will bring the first ever US-Afghan theater collaboration to New York City with Beyond the Mirror, created and written by the Bond Street Theatre and Exile Theatre ensembles, and directed by Mahmoud Shah Salimi and Joanna Sherman. Beyond the Mirror begins previews on Thursday, November 17 for a limited engagement through Sunday, December 4 at Theater for the New City (155 First Avenue, between 9th and 10th Streets). The show will open on Sunday, November 20 at 3 PM.

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The show is "a journey through three decades of war and occupation in Afghanistan and a search for cultural identity. Woven through myths and memories, family histories and first-hand accounts, traditional dances and live music, story-telling and filmed montages, Beyond the Mirror weaves an intricate tapestry of events, both desperate and hopeful," according to press notes.

The play began to take root in the refugee areas of northern Pakistan in March 2002. Members of Bond Street Theatre, performing for Afghan children in refugee schools in Pakistan, met up with a dauntless group of Afghan actors who dared to present live theater despite the restrictions and repressions of the times. This group was Exile Theatre. The two companies were immediately drawn to each other's theatrical views and techniques, and planned to create a new work together. This plan came to fruition the following year in Kabul and, since that time, has grown into a full-length theatre work, which received its world premiere at the 2nd Afghan Theatre Festival in Kabul in August of 2005.

The cast of Beyond the Mirror features Anisa Wahab, one of the few women to be accepted as an actress in Afghan culture, and a film and television star from before the Taliban's reign. Joining her are Salim Asir, Seth Bloom, Christina Gelsone, Michael McGuigan, Quraishi, Jamil Royesh, Mahmoud Shah Salimi and Joanna Sherman.

The design team includes a set by Sherman and McGuigan; with lighting by Jeanne Koenig (Broadway's The Lion King). Original music is composed and performed by Quraishi, with additional music by Andy Teirstein. Video montages are created by McGuigan, Shah Salimi and Bloom.

"Exile Theatre was established in 2000 in Peshawar, Pakistan by Afghan theater, film and television artists who were forced to leave during the Taliban regime. Its mission was to rehabilitate the theater arts in exile. They created plays that reflected the social, political and cultural conditions of the Afghan people, despite constant interference by Pakistan police. Since their return to Afghanistan, they have become leaders in revitalizing the theater-arts in their country by introducing new, dynamic forms of theater, film and experimental media.

Bond Street Theatre, founded in 1978, draws on the musical and gestural arts of many traditions and the physical performance styles from many cultures to create original theater works. Recipient of a MacArthur Award, the company has received funding from the Trust for Mutual Understanding, ArtsLink, and Arts International and has performed in major theaters and festivals world-wide. The company is dedicated to creating theater that crosses borders and bringing their theater work to refugee camps and areas of conflict."

Beyond the Mirror begins touring Japan in October, and arrives in the US at The Theatre Project in Baltimore, Maryland from November 3 through 13 before coming to New York. The US tour is sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional funding from the US Department of State.

The New York performance schedule is Thursday through Saturday at 8 PM and Sunday at 3 PM. Tickets are $15; $12 for students and seniors. For tickets, the general public can call 212-254-1109 or visit www.theatermania.com.






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