Ajaj Sleem: Theatre Is a Delicate Art – An Interview on Arab Theatre's Challenges, Education, and Criticism

This document presents an interview with Dr. Ajaj Sleem, Director of the Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts in Damascus, conducted in 2010. The conversation covers a wide range of issues facing Arab theatre. Sleem describes theatre as a “delicate and fragile art,” similar to crystal, easily affected by economic, social, and political conditions, as well as by weather, media, and funding. He rejects the idea of a single, unified “Arab theatre crisis,” arguing that each country has its own unique circumstances and that no ready-made solutions exist. He emphasizes that theatre must become a social necessity – a dream first articulated by pioneer Abu Khalil al-Qabbani over 150 years ago – rather than depend on political decisions. Sleem disputes claims of a crisis in playwriting, directing, or acting; instead, he identifies the core problems as a lack of official support, sustainable funding, and proper theatre education from childhood. He strongly advocates for school theatre as a strategic investment in future audiences and practitioners. He also praises initiatives for theatre by people with disabilities, calling for integration rather than pity. Finally, he critiques Arab theatre criticism as either personal insult or mechanical application, lacking the experience, knowledge, and wisdom required for genuine evaluation. The interview highlights a major cooperation agreement between the Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts and Sharjah’s theatre groups (Masareh Sharjah) aimed at unifying curricula and establishing a pan-Arab conference for theatre education. This version is archived in the Arab International University (AIU) repository for open access and dissemination purposes. The content of this paper has not been modified from the original publication.For more information, please visit the official repository of Arab International University (AIU): https://www.aiu.edu.sy