Abdul Qader Farukh’s Biography:

Abdul Qader Farukh son of Ustad. Mohammad Farukh Affandi born in 1947 amongst a musical and theatrical family.

 In 1954 started his work on theatre by the appreciations of his father, at first he was participating in children’s singing group and then he went forward by working in a play called “Influenza of Love” in the role of a poor boy; play was directed by Ustaad Abd. Rasheed Jalia and other actors were: Ustaad M. Rafeeq Sadiq, Ustaad Bessud, Yousuf Kuhzad, Said Muqaddas Nigah, Amin Aashufta, Faiz Mohammad Fayez and other.

After one year he was able to start Radio Afghanistan in children’s programs.

 In 1966 after graduating from school he was accepted as an actor in Pohanne Nindarey under the hands of Dept. Art and Ministry of Information and Culture.

In 1974 he became the administrator of theatre, after an year he became the general administrator of Afghan Film, despite his job he worked with Aryana Film, Shafq Film, Art and Literature of Television.

 After the evacuation of Dr. Najeeb’s government he worked as the administrator of theatre in Balkh Theatre, according to the needs of people he created the Dept. of Arts and worked as the Professional Assistant of the Department; after he created the department of Culture and Theatre of Electrical Mills and worked as the head of it. 

He started creating theatrical plays for the north provinces of Afghanistan and became the General Head of Culture and Art of Northern Alliance.

He made programs for the Red Crescent and achieved success in making Radio Dramas.

 In 1998 when Taliban came to Kabul he went to Peshawar, Pakistan and tell now he is working in BBC Radio as an actor in “New Home New Life” in the role of “Adam Khan”, and is still the top actor of BBC Radio; he has also worked as a director in a few televisions.

In 2003 he got able to create Ustaad Mohammad Qader Farukhs Academy and made 3 Drams by the names of Bad, Director and Good Choice.

By the help of Foundation for Culture and Civil Society and UNEMA the play of “Good Choice” got able to be played in two provinces of Afghanistan in both Dari and Pashto languages; Mr. Farukh did the direction.

 He has participated and gained good results in two Festivals of Theatre and Cinema, and has participated in more than 150 theatrical plays and Movies the best of which are as follows:

 Theatre Section:

 Cinema Section:

Assadullah Tajzai’s Biography

Assadullah Tajzai who was graduated from the Mechanical High School of Kabul in 1955, was accepted as a mechanic in Pohanne Nindarey; during his work he studied in a Dramatic course Instructed by Ustaad Mehraba Nazarouve and after that he started playing in theatrical plays, 1961.

 In 1971 he became the head and director of Herat Nendarey, in 1977 he came to Kabul while the Afghanistan’s T.V started it’s programs and he started his work as actor and director.

From 1982 he started his work with Kabul Theatre for the second time till Taliban came and it was closed, despite working as an actor he has also directed a few plays.

He has written more than 20 plays, 50 short plays for theatre, Television and Radio, Long tales for Radio; he has written two Film Scripts and has worked in 3 movies for television and cinema.

 At the moment he is working with Afghan Film, Television, Radio BBC and other Private theatres and films also he is one of the instructors of Sadiq Theatre and is continuing his theatrical activities.

Ariane Mnouchkine.

 They have presented two plays till now, 1^st was Shakespeare’s “Romeo & Juliet” Directed by Mourice Durozier and by the help of Shaghayegh Beheshti, Nathalie Joly; which was played on 30^th of August 2005 at the 2^nd  National Afghan Theatre Forum.

Aftaab Theatre played “Romeo & Juliet” in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on 17^th of September 2005.

 Their second play was Noor Mohammad Tabaroov’s “Tars” which means FEAR; the play was directed by Mirza Watan Miroov.

 They had a trip to Paris, France from 3^rd February – 28^th March 2006; the trip was organized by Theatre Du Soliel of France and contained Dance, Rhythm, Acting and Direction classes.

 Having 20 members and 2 plays in their category now they are going to present Moliere’s “Tartuffe” in the 3^rd National Theatre Festival of Afghanistan.

 Aftaab Theatre celebrated their 1^st anniversary in 5^th of July 2006.

 For more information about Aftaab Theatre log on to: www.aftaab-theatre.com

You can mail us on aftaab@aftaab-theatre.com

History of theatre in Afghanistan

compiled by Mohammad Azim Hussain Zadah

Theatre has had its origin and roots in religious rituals, ethnical and national habits and traditions. The content and structure of theatre plays and the way it was presented developed and widened to dealing with all kinds of human being affairs. That is the same with theatre in Afghanistan, which had its place in regional and religious rituals before Islam in Afghanistan spread.

In history of Afghanistan’s theatre, the Madahan (narrators and preachers) are pioneers of Afghanistan’s theatre. These narrators usually appeared in crowded bazaars and gathering places, narrating epic, religious and mythological  tales. They emphasised their narration’s with gestures, mimic, movements, and altering voices and accents. They used common and poetic language. The Madahan narrated and played all different roles of a tale on their own. The content of the tales were dedicated to Islam characters, which later were partially replaced by mythological themes.

Sadhos are the second group of pioneers of Afghanistan’s theatre. Usually they narrated  tales and stories of courageous behaviour and of religious characters of Islam.

Clowns are the primary group of theatre makers inspired by Madahan and Sadhos. They used exaggerated masks showing monsters, devils, fairies and others. They performed at weddings and birthday parties to entertain the people and to make them laugh.

The famous Painter Jabar achieved to gather some clowns and people who were interested in theatre in a location which became the first theatre in the country, called Lahor Gate, in Kabul. In these years, at the turn from the 19^th to the 20^th century, the teacher Ali Afandi spread theatre to schools, from where the first performances could be watched in Afghanistan’s fifth independent year in 1902. In 1944 Knowledge Theatre was founded by Ghulam Muhammad Saljoqi and managed by Abdul Rashid Latifi and Abdul Ghafoor Breshna.

In 1949, the City Theatre was established and managed by Abdul Rashid Jalia who was also the artistic director of this foundation. The staged plays were composed of common and simple language. Productions of this foundation were e.g. Black Wear, Two Loves, Soldier Love, Old Shoe and Cheater Woman.

In Afghanistan’s history the years from 1949 are called climax years. In these years, both the theatre  of Knowledge and the theatre of Orphanage held a healthy competition for the best plays and biggest audience. Meanwhile, Muhammad Ali Raunaq came back from France, graduated in theatre and established the First Dramatic Arts Course and brought to Afghanistan the principles of modern theatre.

1958 can be called a year of big change for Afghanistan’s theatre history: Eng. Muhammad Ali Raunaq brought a sustainable revolution to different aspects of theatre such as acting, directing, décor, costume, make up, light and sound. He continued with his activities till 1960 and it is possible to say, that in the years from 1945 till the 60s theatre was highly appreciated and consumed among all of the afghan society. The staged plays ranged from tales about afghan history and cultural epics to Shakespeare and plays by Anton Chehov.

Besides, Mrs. Zainab Saraj could establish the Women Theatre in 1958, with Sayed Muqadas Negah being the artistic director of this theatre. The plays were performed just for women and it was the first place and time in Afghanistan that women took part in theatre plays as actresses, like Mrs. Habiba Askar, Mrs. Zulaikha Negah, and Najiba Dina, who were the first ones. In the beginning the audience also consisted only of women, but after a few years they successfully opened the theatre for a mixed audience.

In 1960, the tajik director Shams Qiamof was the first foreign director who came to Kabul and he started working with Knowledge Theatre. Besides spreading and teaching theory of theatre, he did practical works with different afghan artists as well. It was these years that the Fine Arts Organisation was established and had its activities in three sections: music, painting and sculpture, and Dramatic Arts.

Due to some problems, activities of City Theatre stopped in 1965, Knowledge Theatre and Fine Arts Organisation joined together from mid year of 1965 to 1966 and staged many of new productions together.

Interview with Ustad Abdul Qayoom Bessid

Could you describe the tradition of theatre in Afghanistan?

Theatre in Afghanistan derives from folklore and later it developed religious forms. Modern theatre was established during the reign of Ghazi Amanullah - a theatre, a cinema and an amphitheatre were built in the public garden of Paghman. The first staged performance was called “Mother Watan” with Mr. Said Kazam Agha in the main role. In these times the actors were highly respected by the king, the queen, the ministers and other educated people.

What were your artistic activities during the war in Afghanistan?

The years of war had devastating effects for theatre. With the beginning of the war the theatres and cinemas were burnt and they called us disbelievers. Therefore to live in Kabul under such circumstances was the hell for us. Most of the artists went abroad and I went to Mazar-e-Sharif where General Dostum, commander of that province, hired me as a deputy president of art of northern provinces and I could  perform a lot of plays.

How do you evaluate the current theatre situation in Afghanistan?

We are facing a lot of problems. There is a lack of professional actors, directors, writers and theatre experts of dramatic literature. Besides we don’t have any sufficient places to perform. But I appreciate the theatre and cinema department of Kabul University, Faculty of Fine Arts, for its great plans for the future, e.g. the setting up of Dramatic Arts Center, the theatre forum this year and the first international theatre festival next year. But I hope that in the next years there will be a progress in the field of theatre education and training.      

Biography of Julia Afifi

Julia is an Afghan artist born in Germany.  In 2005 she came to Kabul through the Goethe-Institut to teach in the Faculty of Fine Arts, Kabul University.  Her father, Mohammad Ashraf Afifi was a football player in Afghanistan.  Julia lived in Afghanistan while she was a child in1975.

Julia Afifi has a Master’s degree in Philosophy, Literature, Theatre and Science from the Universities of Frankfurt and Sir John (Paris).  From 1997-99 she studied theatre directing and has worked in the Literature Section of Frankfurt and the Goethe Museum of Frankfurt.   She has also worked with Vidakera Frankfurt, Taat Frankfurt National Theatre, Opera Attestotagadt, Hurk Tiaber Helen, and Frankfurt Theatre.  From 1999-2000 she taught in the University of Frankfurt.

Julia Afifi taught students of the Fine Arts Theatre and Cinema department and also directed a few plays from 2003-2005.  While in Afghanistan she helped to develop the art of theatre for which history will always remember her.

A summary of Julia’s work in Afghanistan:

 Director and co-founder of the Dramatic Art Center

Director of  Anigona, Sophokulus and Zajeebi, Mufdorleta, Tenti Chunkur

Assisted Ashyaana Children’s Theatre

Assisted the National Theatre (Kabul Theatre)

To increase the student’s knowledge of some of the world’s greatest authors she provided books in German, Persian and English to the archives of Fine Arts, Kabul University.

She also gave videos which were related to theatre.

Julia is a member of the Dramatic Art Center and is working in theatre in Germany.

From the Archive of Dramatic Arts

Professor (Pohandoy) Mohammad Azim Hussain Zadah

 Mr. Mohammad Azim Hussain Zadah son of Mohammad Arif was born in an open minded family in December 26th 1960 in “Aashuqaan Aarifaan”, Kabul. He started his primary studies in “Ashuqaan” Primary school and graduated from Habibia High School. From 1980-1987 he studied in theatre, music and cinema institute of Saint. Petersburg, Russia. After returning to Afghanistan in 1989 he joined the Cadre of Fine Arts, Kabul University.

1^st Governmental Degree

2^nd Professors Degree

 Posts in which he has worked/working:

1.     Member of Educational council in Kabul University from 1990 – Now

2.     Member of Educational council in Fine Arts from 1990 – Now

 3.     Member of Selection team in exhibitive arts, Union of Artists, 1990

4.     Theatre subjects Instructor, Union of Artists, 1990

5.     Voice president, Faculty of Fine Arts, from 1990 - 1994

6.     Head of Theatre and Cinema department, from 1995 – Now

7.     Voice president, Faculty of Fine Arts, from 1998 - 2001

8.     Head in Faculty of Fine Arts, Kabul University from 2001 – 2003

9.     Head of Cultural parliament in Kabul University from 2003 – Now

10.   Member of Art parliament in Ministry of Information, Culture and youths, 2005 - Now

11.   Member of jury in Department of art and literature, 2005

12.   Organizer and Director of all 4 Afghan National Theatre Festivals of Afghanistan and looking forward to start the 5^th Afghan National Theatre Festival of Afghanistan

13.   Organizer of tens of artistic exhibitions, musical concerts, Afghan Artists from Afghanistan and abroad, creating tens of educational and artistic workshops in Kabul University and outside the University

14.   Making tens of vocational workshops for students of theatre, cinema and music department

15.   Acceptation of 7 cadres in theatre, cinema and music department

16.   Facilitating more then 20 instructors for the theatre, cinema and music department

17.   Participation in theatre festivals, Tajikistan, India and Germany

18.   Finding financial support from the aiding and neighboring countries for rebuilding the theatre department of Fine Arts Faculty

19.   Completing the needs of music, theatre and cinema department

20.   Instructing subjects related to cinema and giving a name to the cinema department (before it was only theatre department)

21.   Establishment of Dramatic Arts Centre

22.   Collecting and making an archive of theatre and cinema related material in Dramatic Arts Centre and trying his best to make a separate faculty for Music, Theatre and Cinema according to international standards

  Other theatrical activities:

 Three actors in one role, in Russian

 ·         A research on the present issues of Afghanistan

·         Kinds of acting in Slavinski’s system

·         Dozens of essays on Theatre art for the Magazines in Kabul University

·         Dozens of interviews in Televisions, Magazines and other national and international issues.

 I have:

 Diploma in creating arts from Union of Artists in Afghanistan, 2003

Admiration Letter from the Ministry of Information and Culture, 2006

3rd degree admiration letter from the Ministry of Higher Education, 2000

1st degree admiration letter from the President of Afghanistan, 2006

Biography of Ustaad Abdul Qayoum Bessud

 Ustaad Abd. Qayoum Bessud was born in Kabul, 1928. He was excited about the art of theatre since childhood and in 1954 he was one of those people who registered himself with Late M. Akbar Nadem.

 Mr Bessud showed his talent in Direction, Writing plays and Acting since he was a youngster. He has made lots of successful plays during his work; a few are named here like: Fire under the ashes, Result, Golden Ring, Civic and Suburban. 

Ustaad Bessud is not just an Author, but also is one of the greatest Directors and Actors of our Country. He has made hundreds of plays and has worked in hundreds; his works outside country has always been admirable and has always received great achievements at the end of International Festivals.

He has also been one of the great footballers of his time, despite all of his practical works Mr. Bessud has instructed youths in the field of theatre he has instructed in short courses and also in the Dept. Theatre and Cinema, Faculty of Fine Arts; the lessons were not just for the students, but his Brothers (Abd. Rahman and Aziz Tasleem), Daughter and wife were also there to learn and they became talented helpers of theatre for the country.

 For a short period of time he was one of the members of parliament, and after he received the name of “Father of Theatre” from Union of Poets, Union of Artists and Union of Literature.

After the wars begin in Afghanistan Mr. Bessud went to Mazar-E-Sharif and fortunately in 1995 artists of Mazar-E-Sharif celebrated his 50 years of work in theatre.

 At the moment Mr. Bessud is working and teaching theatre in Shiberghan and Mazar-E-Sharif; He is one of the stars in Aina t.v.

 May God give him long life, nice health and success.

Interview with Nemat Ullah Nalan

Theatre of Kandahar

Can you tell us about the history of theatre in Kandahar?

Sure. First of all it is necessary to know, that we don’t have any historic documents about the theatre of Kandahar, but we can say that in the past Kandahar theatre showed diverse theatre performances and we know that the Kandahar theatre was co-founded by Mohammad Akbar, who lived one hundred years ago. I am very hopeful, that due to the establishing of the Dramatic Arts Centre at the Faculty of Fine Arts, University Kabul, we will be enabled to do more of the needed research about Kandahar theatre and its past.

After the fall of the Taliban regime and under the new interim government of the Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan theatre revived in Kabul, Herat and Jalalabad. What about Kandahar theatre?

Like in Kabul the people in Kandahar started again to pay attention to several arts, like music, painting and theatre and new artistic activities evolved again.

How was the situation of theatre in Kandahar during the last 20 years?

In the last 20 years we didn’t have any theatre program.

Which kind of cultural work did you do?

In 1992 I opened an Union of Culture in Kandahar and my mission was to fight against forced marriage and bad traditions.

Where did you live during the Taliban regime and which artistic activities have you done?

First I stayed in Kandahar, but unfortunately I didn’t do something for the Arts.

But I went to Pakistan to Qoyata city and I showed theatre performances for afghan immigrants.

When did the Kandahar theatre started its work again?

After twenty years of forced silence the newly regained peace and independence of Afghanistan during the transitional government enabled me to reopen the theatre of Kandahar. The last two, three years we were producing a lot of theatre performances and showed them to the people.

Are there women working at Kandahar theatre?

Some women had great interest to work in theatre and cinema, but they haven’t dared yet to work at present time.

What is your idea about the Afghan Theatre Forum 2004?

It is a very big and good step to do, and we can say that it is a symbol of national cultural unity in our country.

Theater in Afghanistan

Art of theater has had origin and roots in religions in nations’ culture and traditions; later has opened its way to human and human being affairs. It is the same in Afghanistan. Theater had its place in regions and religious rites before Islam in Afghanistan.

 In history of Afghanistan’s theater, Madahan (narrators and prayers) are pioneers of Afghanistan’s temporary theater. These narrators usually gathered in crowd bazaars and gathering places narrating epic, religious and mythological tales. Their narrations were full of gestures, mimes, declamation, movements, and accents. They used common and poetic language.  They narrated several roles of the tales and played them too. Content of the tales were dedicated to Islam characters. Later, the content was replaced to mythological themes.

 Sadho(s) are the second group of pioneers of Afghanistan’s theater. Usually, they narrated courage tales and stories of religious characters of Islam on religious events.

 Clowns are the primary group of theater makers inspired by Madahan and Sadhos. They used masks showing monsters, evils, fairs…. They did their performances in marriage and birthday parties just for to have fun and make people laugh.

 Painter Jabar who taught painting in Crafts School could gather some clowns and interested people to theater in a location which is origin of Kabul called Lahor Gate, founded primary theater in the country.

 In these years, Ali Afandi who was a teacher spread theater to schools. They performed their first performance in Afghanistan’s fifth independence year.  

In 1944, Knowledge Theater was founded by Ghulam Muhammad Saljoqi who was dean of Media Department. The theater was run and headed by Abdul Rashid Latifi and Abdul Ghafoor Breshna.

 In 1949, City Theater was established and headed by Abdul Rashid Jalia who was artistic director of this foundation too. These plays had common and simple language. Products of this foundation were: Black Wear, Two Loves, Soldier Love, Old Shoe and Cheater Woman.

 In Afghanistan’s history, years from 1949 are called climax years.  In these years, both theaters of Knowledge and Orphanage had healthy competition. Meanwhile, Muhammad Ali Raunaq came back from France graduated in theater field established First Dramatic Arts Course and principles for modern theater.

 1958 is called year of big change in Afghanistan’s theater history. Eng. Ali Raunaq brought up a deep revolution in different aspects of theater such as acting, direction, décor, costume; make up, light, sound…. Activities of Mr. Ali Raunaq continued till 1960.

Besides, Mrs Zainab Saraj could establish Women Theater in 1958. Sayed Muqadas Negah was artistic director of this theater. The plays were performed just for women. It was first place and time that women took part in theater playing as actresses. Mrs Habiba Askar, Mrs. Zulaikha Negah, and Najiba Dina are the first ones played as actresses. Audiences of this theater were all women.

In 1960, Tajiki director called Shams Qiamof who was first foreign director came to Kabul and started working with Knowledge Theater. Besides theory of theater, he did practical works of theater with artists.  It was these years that Fine Arts Organization established and had its activities in three sections: Music, Painting and Sculpture, and Dramatic Arts.

 Due to some problems, activities of City Theater stopped in 1965. Knowledge Theater and Fine Arts Organization integrated from mid year of 1965 to 1966a and staged many of new products.

 In 1973, Afghan Nendari (theater) was established with a big structure. It started producing fruitful products after political changes in the country.

 After communist trend regimes revolution in 1978, theater artists immigrated to overseas and theater faced decline.

In 1993, when civil war started among faction parties of Mujahedin, building of Kabul Theater was destroyed and artists scattered every where.

 And when Taliban took political power in 1995, theater went into deep sleep for a long time. Just faculty of fine arts had theater activities in some tricky way. Some other theaters had their activities in immigration such as Exile Theater.

When interim government was established and Taliban’s regime was overwhelmed, theater revived like other aspects of life. Ministry of Information and Culture paid attention to theater art and first performances of theater took place in Kabul Theater ruins. Broken and burnt chairs of Kabul Theater hospitalized hundreds of audiences. Most of the artists returned to Afghanistan. Kabul Theater started performing in provinces after long time. Besides, some independent individual theaters came into existence such as Farukh Theater, Sadiq Theater, Takamul Theater, Asmayee Theater….