Since February, I've started picking up a youth passion of mine: theater. A similar project to the one I am doing (using video and multimedia to work regarding intercultural conflicts between young Moroccans and sub-Saharan migrants) uses theater instead. Try outs were end of February, and around 15 people were selected, all with a certain link to migration or urban areas. It's either Moroccans that have lived abroad, sub-Saharan migrants established in Morocco or European expats living in Morocco (such as myself).Though I originally went to the casting with little hope or intention to be selected, but more as a favor to a friend, I got picked and, with some reservations towards time constraints, decided to give it a shot. There is no pre-established script and much of it is based on our own personal stories and experiences. I've been digging up many stories from my Haiti-Dominican Republic time.
It's fun being creative in this area again, though I must admit it's sometimes tricky to simply follow the dynamics and not always understand where it's heading. The director has this vision where each of us doesn't display his/her abilities, but shares this strength with others who will play that. For instance, I play capoeira, but will show others how to do it and they'll act it out. A Dutch girl and a Nigerian woman play these two Moroccan women greeting and kissing and hugging each other. We're rapping in the background while the real rapper is being beaten up.
Rehearsals are intensifying and I'm not sure I'll be able to stay involved at this rhythm, as work is also taking up a lot of my time. We're supposed to perform on the 2nd of June, at the National Theater, so time is running short. But either way, it's been fun to meet, to play and we'll see what comes out of it...
