This programme was a foundation course that aimed to build the basic technical competencies and to enable youth around Ezbet Khayrallah to work in the field of artistic production. It can be very challenging to make a living as an artist but having technical skills that are required to create performances and run events can be a means of developing a steady career and income.

Ezbet Khayrallah expands over an area of 2 square kilometers (480 feddans) with an estimated population of 700,000, making it one of the largest and most densely populated informal communities in Egypt. It is one of the largest unplanned communities in Egypt.
For those residing and working in Ezbet Khayrallah, who have a passion for working in the arts but can’t due to the typical hindrances that all artists face, as well as a scarcity in general employment opportunities, this would be a viable direction to take; to be able to combine their creativity and technical skills, as well as make a living.

The programme was comprised of workshops and master-classes that are offered by some of the best in the field of technical direction and artistic production. Throughout the programme, the participants got the chance to gain practical hands-on experiences by partaking in various events and performances taking place inside the community in collaboration with our partner in Ezbet Khayrallah; Tawasol. Additionally, there were opportunities for the participants to receive work placements during the various events organized by Studio Emad Eddin and Orient Productions, more specifically during D-CAF (Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival).

Activities and methodology:

a. Workshops and Master-Classes:
As part of the first phase of the programme, a number of foundation workshops and master classes were offered. The objective was to offer the participants a solid grounding as a starting point. Also to introduce them to all the different subject areas that are part of the technical field. The idea was that they find themselves naturally gravitating to one or several of those subject areas and eventually specialize in them.
After the participants were offered some opportunities for practical experiences (please refer to practicum section below), they were then offered another set of advanced workshops and master-classes where they delved deeper in the subject.
Finally, alongside these specialized workshops, another set of trainings and workshops were offered. Adopting a more liberal arts approach to education, the workshops spanned across a wide range of topics, from art appreciation to yoga and dance.

b. Practicum and Performances
The participants got to partake in practical placements during the Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival (D-CAF). The festival marked the start of a period of practical training, where the participants would be expected to work on small-scale performances as well as possible events happening as part of Orient Production’s calendar of events. This was a great opportunity for the participants to practice and consolidate the knowledge they’ve acquired up to that point.
As part of the strategy to introduce the participants to professional methods of working, they received monetary compensation for their participation and work during the events. They were treated as part of the crew that is hired to work on these events and they got a small payment for their efforts.

The participants are also expected to work on other performances taking place within Ezbet Kahyrallah. Orient productions will work in collaboration with Tawasol to bring a number of small-scale performances to be performed at Tawasol’s premise that will be open to the public.
Another advantage they gained by working on the live events is that they got a chance to see and watch different performances; international and local. They were allowed to watch the performances.

c. Technical setup of the theatre
Tawasol is currently in the process of building their newest premise, which will operate as a community school as well as community centre accessible to everyone from the various surrounding areas. The building will also have a fully equipped and functioning theatre that will be used to host and showcase various productions. Orient plans to assist with the setting-up of the theatre since it has a big network of professionals who can be consulted during the process. Besides performing their own productions in the theatre, Tawasol will also be able to host different visiting performances, potentially attracting a diverse audience to enter into the neighbourhood.

Schedule:
• Intro to light operation and design – Saber El Sayed (Egypt) on February 2019 at Ezbet Khayrallah
• Intro to stage and production management – Maram AbdelMaqsoud (Egypt) on February 2019 at Ezbet Khayrallah
• Intro to video projection and mapping – Josh Garner (UK) on March 2019 at Studio Emad Eddin
• Intro to live sound operation – Hameed Sabry on March 2019 at Ezbet Khayrallah
• Internship at DCAF festival March – April 2019
• Practice session of live sound operation – Hameed Sabry on April 2019 at Falaki Theater
• Intro to stage and production management – Maram AbdelMaqsoud (Egypt) on June 2019 at Studio Emad Eddin
• Scenography – Hussein Baydoun (Lebanon) on August 2019 at Studio Emad Eddin
• Scenography- Ahmed Ashmawy (Egypt) on November 2019 at Studio Emad Eddin
• live sound operation – Hameed Sabry on November 2019 at Studio Emad Eddin
• Stage and production management – Maram AbdelMaqsoud (Egypt) on December 2019 at Studio Emad Eddin

* This program was a partnership between Tawasol , Studio Emad Eddin and Orient productions