War

Abstract

Syria’s modern theatre developed during a state of war. Since fighting broke out in June 1967, Syrian-Israeli relations have been characterized by sporadic hostilities, open warfare, and periodic disengagements. War has been a constant, if unexamined, background. The emergency laws that criminalize “weakening national sentiment” ensure that there will be no policy debates beyond circles of power. Consequently war has been transformed into an abstraction — a constant that can only be acknowledged in received slogans and concepts without reference to specific events and policy decisions. Nonetheless, playwrights have repeatedly pressed the boundaries of permissible speech, embodying contrary visions of the national struggle. In doing so, the theatre has asked its audience to examine a trauma that continues to shape the national imaginary.