Visiting Arts
Afghanistan Cultural Profiles ProjectCultural Profile
 
                                                                               
 
Early theatrical development
From the late 19th century onwards European colonial settlers organised performances of western plays and musicals, primarily for their own amusement, but the development of theatre as an Afghan art form may be traced back to the court sponsorship of King Amanullah Khan (1919-1929), who staged performances of European classics. Only in Kabul was this new form of theatre known. After he was deposed, perhaps because of his efforts to modernise the country, the western style of theatre was not heavily supported until the 1950s, when King Zahir (b 1933) began to introduce political reforms and tolerance. It was during this period that Turkish theatre practitioner Farouk Afandi arrived and taught various theatrical techniques. The first people to create home-grown Afghan plays were directors Rashid Latif, Jalia, Magadas Negah and Bashid (who still lives in Mazar e Sharif).
 
created with financial support from
British Council Afghanistan
Date updated: 18 August 2004
 
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