July 15, 2023 | 06:30 pm at Ishbilia Theatre and Art Hub, Saida
PANEL 3: TALES AS A TOOL FOR SOCIO-POLITICAL IMAGINATION

with Ali Al Samra

Fables have been used for a long time to communicate moral or political messages, and they can be a tool for social commentary or criticism that varies from one context to another considering the translation and intercultural phases fables passed through social and political events can influence the content and themes of fables: Aesop's fables had political commentary and ancient Greek fables had moral messages. Medieval fables criticized societal norms and the ruling class.  
Fables are used in education and propaganda to teach important lessons and promote political ideas. Modern fables explore social justice, environmentalism, and human rights through animal and other characters. Fables are constantly changing and remain a valuable tool for social and political commentary. 
Al Samra will be also highlighting tales and fables that influenced him as young kid born and raised in Saida and made him want to pursue a career in theatre.

Panelist:
Ali Al Samra is an Arab artist, born and raised in Saida, South Lebanon, a city of 
stories, culture, halal, and haram that has driven the thrive for visualizing stories to 
execute the importance of fiction in understanding reality. Having studied acting and 
directing at the Lebanese University (LU) He developed his interest in discovering the 
origin of fables and stories and merging multidisciplinary articulations for storytelling. The social-artistic integration has always been his research and implementation spectrum. Ali joined The Red Bridge Ensemble in 2018, which specializes in Playback Theatre and Theatre of the Oppressed, and the International Institution for Very Very Serious Studies (IIVVSS), a performance training program for social engagement in 2021. He also works at Seenaryo as an Education Manager focusing on the play-based approach in education.