THEATRE OF THE DISPLACED: SUDANESE RESISTANCE IN IDP CAMPS.

Abstract

This paper delves into Sudanese theatre, with a specific focus on the text and performance aspects within internal displacement camps in Wad Madani, particularly the play "Matarees." The analysis centers on the goals of displaced dramatists, specifically how they utilize theatre to address community issues, including conveying war-related information to children, reflecting the experience of displacement, and providing nuanced takes on gender roles under displacement. Additionally, the theatre in displacement camps serves as a physical space of solidarity, offering entertainment and centering narratives on the displaced to position them as main characters and survivors. 

The paper aims to counter global and local marginalization of the 10 million internally displaced Sudanese citizens and demystify Sudanese resistance and survival through theater. It involves a close reading of the play, along with interviews with the writers and performers, exploring their expression of identity as Sudanese dramatists and their ability to reclaim spaces despite constant displacement. After initiating this project, the city of Wad Madani was attacked by the terrorist militia, the RSF, displacing the theatre group once again. Now situated in the city of Port Sudan, the conclusion will discuss the ideas of hope within constant displacement, artistic expression as a tool of financial survival during wartime, and the unique perspective of Sudanese local resistance.