ASHTAR - Forum Theatre
Abu Shaker’s Affairs 99

It is a play that digs into the psycho-sociological strata of the society, through delving into the prohibited and unveils the hidden. How often do we read in the newspapers short news items about murdering women in preservation of the family’s honour or a mysterious disappearance of a young woman? The news ends here without any follow up. In all these cases the victim pays the price twice; once when she is assaulted and then again when the males of the family deal with the problem of redeeming their honour through murdering the woman. What of the perpetrator... the law... why is there an enacted law... and in whose favour? Masha’el is a young woman who was subjected to rape at eight years of age by her paternal uncle Abu Shaker. He forced her mother to silence in return for support of the family following his brother’s death. He even forced his under age nephew to work as a car mechanic at his garage rather than allow him go to school in order to safeguard the secrecy of the incident. At the moment it becomes known Abu Shaker decides that the best means to deal with it is to have her brother kill Masha’el to redeem his and the family’s honour. Written by: The Team Directed by: Peter Braschler Actors: Edward Muallem, Munira Zureiki, Raed Al Ayasa, Shadi Zmorrod, Tahani Salim, Sami Mitwasi Scenography: ASHTAR Poster Design: Majed Azubaidy Program Design: Edward Muallem Technician: Atallah Tarazi Produced by: ASHTAR Theatre - 1999 Co-produced by: CARE International