CAVERSHAM writer Afeif Ismail will speak at an international theatre forum in Argentina this month.
The Australian-Sudanese writer will attend the 5th International Theatre for Children and Young People Researchers and Critics Forum in Buenos Aires from September 17 to 21.
Ismail will join five other artists on a panel to discuss the topic ‘Present and Future of Theatre of Young Audiences Playwriting Around the World’.
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READ NOW“I’ll welcome the chance to discuss how theatre is a key tool to help with settlement, integration, and fighting the stigma around mental health in new communities,” he said.
“I will present a paper about the role of multicultural theatre in the integration of children in the diaspora in Australia.”
Ismail said it was an opportunity to exchange ideas and processes, and for cross-cultural dialogue.
“I’ll bring my African-Arabic cultural background and experiences to enrich conversations about multicultural performance, and how newcomers to Australia can enrich the arts scene,” he said.
“As an African playwright, I came from the great land of the black pharaohs.
“This legacy has helped me plant unique theatrical seeds worldwide.
“It’s my hope that my unique Australian experiences of mixed identity offers a major contribution to the multicultural landscape in international theatre.”
Ismail plans to build relationships with directors and producers to increase opportunities for the wider production of his plays – The African Magician, Son of the Nile, 3 Seeds and Circles of Return.