Jordanian Artists Association Boycotts 8th Amman Theatre Days Festival

Published April 8th, 2001 - 03:00 GMT

The 8th Amman Theatre Days Festival kicked off on Wednesday amongst controversy fuelled by the Jordanian Artists Association's last minute boycott of the annual festival, organized by al-Fawanees Theatre Troupe and the Egyptian Theatrical Workshop, according to Jordan Times.

This year's festival was named “al-Intifada,” and was planned to feature many performances by Palestinian troupes and performers, besides the participation of 15 local and international theatre troupes.

The first performance in this year's festival was the play Junun, (Insanity), by Tunisian troupe Familia Productions. The play, featuring internationally acclaimed Tunisian performers, was presented on the opening day and Thursday, the second day of the festival.

Other troupes will be participating in the festival from the Netherlands, France, Sweden, Morocco, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt in addition to Palestine, Tunisia and Jordan.

The Jordanian Artists Association's boycott of the festival was officially announced in a press conference at the association's headquarters an hour before the festival opened. During the press conference, Mohammad Barmawi, head of the association, told reporters that he called on all the association's members and the public to boycott participation in and attendance at the festival.

"Al-Fawanees are holding this festival for the fifth time now without obtaining legal permits from the Jordanian Artists Association. We can't overlook these violations of the association's law anymore," Barmawi said.

He added that the festival was receiving funds from foreign sources that he claimed had ulterior motives – Albawaba.com