A non-traditional solo documentary puppet performance for 8 spectators with a culinary surprise at the end. Stories and situations from the family life of a Palestinian man born and raised in a refugee camp in Jordan, performed and directed by him in an intimate account of his homeland history since 1948’s Palestinian Nakbah/Catastrophe.
01/44
A non-traditional solo documentary puppet performance for 8 spectators with a culinary surprise at the end. Stories and situations from the family life of a Palestinian man born and raised in a refugee camp in Jordan, performed and directed by him in an intimate account of his homeland ́s history since 1948’s Palestinian Nakbah/Catastrophe.
Husam Abed was born and raised in Baqa’a refugee camp, the biggest
Palestinian refugee camp in Jordan. Audience sit around the table while food is prepared, he tells the stories of his family's diaspora in a charming and evocative way in the context of the political events in region. With soulful music and the power of the objects you get very close to something that seems very distant. All this is accompanied by video projections objects, photos, maps, videos and especially raw "recycled" materials - tin cans, wire, paper, wood, rice grains - and a good old storytelling. Abed speaks loudly, whispers, hits the table with his fist, sings and dances. We hear stories about a life and experiences far away from Western reality. At the table, art connects with life and creation mixed with realism. Abed uses the stories of his own personal and daily life to create an atmosphere that fills all our senses.
Length of the performance: 1h followed by 30 min. sharing a meal.
Performed and directed by: Husam Abed
Dramaturge: Marek Turošík
Stage Design: Réka Deák
Music: Folk, Tareq Al Jundi, Sokout, Sanaa Mousa, Rim Banna
Premier: 24 May 2014 @ KALD – Academy of Performing Arts (DAMU)
With the support of DAMU
2015
The Jury Grant of distinction for The Smooth Life at 20th A puppet is Human too festival, Warsaw, Poland, 11-20 October 2015.
The Jury Grant of distinction for original artistic concept of "The Smooth Life" by Dafa Puppet Theatre at 28th International Theatrical Festival Valise, Lomza, Poland, 10-13 June 2015.
Rachel MacNally, a Jury member of A puppet is a human too fe
Vladimir Hulec - Critic and Jury member of 30th Skupa Plzen
Stephanie Filippi, Prologue to the Performing Arts, Canada
Tatwerk, Berlin, Germany, April 2024.
AW-Munich, Germany, Nov. 2024.
2014
Process 6 festival, Academy of Performing Arts, Czech Republic, May.
(8 performances)
https://www.facebook.com/events/247669662088045/
- Zonglobalizace festival, Pilsen, 1 June 2014. (1 performance)
- Arabian Iranian Cultural Evening, Veseli Nad Moravou, Czechia, 4 June. (2 performances)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUbJte18lXM
- 30th Skupa's Pilsen Festival, Divadlo Alfa, Pilsen, Czechia, 16-18 June. (3 performances)
http://www.divadloalfa.cz/skupova-plzen/index.php/en/o-festivalu-2 (Off program)
- Open Air Festival, Hradec Karlove, Czech Republic, 26 June. (2 performances).
- Alfred ve Dvore, Prague, Czechia, 17 July. (Special performance for NOVA Czech T.V.)
http://tn.nova.cz/clanek/vikend/vikend-loutkova-predstaveni-kterym-se-
tleska-ve-stoje.html
- Art Residency "Talent for sale", Kudowa Zdroj, Poland, 18 Oct. (1 performance)
- Backstreet festival, Teatro Alexandria, Egypt, 22 Oct. (2 performances)
- Jalla Jalla, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 25 Oct.
- GT 22, Moment Theatre, Maribor, Slovenia, 27-28 Oct. (4 performances)
https://goout.cz/en/theatre/the-smooth-life/ixpbb/#
- Golden girls film production, flat 10, Robert Hamerlinggasse 23, Vienna,
Austrian, 30 Oct.
- Nad Prahou Pulmesic (Crescent moon over the sky of Prague), Na Zabradli
Divadlo, 9 Nov. 2014, Humanitarian centrum, 11 Nov., Brno, flat, 13 Nov.,
16 Nov. Zahrada Café Therapy, Czech Republic. (8 performances)
http://nadprahoupulmesic.webnode.cz/
https://www.facebook.com/events/1010786032272213/
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.758186187582547.107374183
2.204248909642947&type=1
- Karama film festival for human rights, December, Jordan. (1 performance)
2015
- Babu Association, 26-28 February, Csikszerda, Romania. (4 performances)
- Transformania festival, 13 March, Orco, Prague. (2 performances)
https://www.facebook.com/events/704753619635738/
- Flying Freedom Festival, 18 March, Ljubljana, Slovenia. (one performance)
- International theatrical festival Valise, Lomza, Poland, 10-13 June 2015. (2
performances) http://www.teatrlomza.hi.pl/index.php?k=48
- Porsgrunn festival, Norway, 15-21 June 2015. (8 performances)
http://en.pitfestival.no/?forestillinger=the-smooth-life
- Open Air festival, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic, 23 June 2015. (2
performances)
http://www.openairprogram.cz/ucinkujici/detail/husam-abed
- Chudnik Art Festival, Sidewalk Underground Movement, Kalisch, Poland, 28
June. (1 performance)
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chodnik-Art-Festiwal/323560724473972?fref=ts
Alta studio, Prague, Czech Republic, 26 June 2015. (2 performances)
http://www.altart.cz/program/husam-abed-the-smooth-life-host/
- Chrudim international puppet festival, Czech Republic, 30 June until 6 July. (10
performances) http://www.chbeseda.cz/utery-30-6-2015
- Puppets in Prague, 10 July. (1 performance)
- Flying Freedom Festival, Miercurea Ciuc, Romania, 14 August. (1performance)
- Teatrul Csiki Gergely Szinhaz, (Hungarian State Theatre), Temesvar, Romania, 27 Aug.-1 Sep. (12 performances)
http://www.tm-t.ro/en/?page=program&introlng=en
- Project Syria, Kavarna Trojka, Brno, Czech Republic, 15 Sep., (1 performance)
- Cheb Monodrama festival, 3-4 October 2015. (3 performances)
http://www.divadlocheb.cz/main.php?sess=djh&r=2015
- Puppet is Human too festival, International Festival of Puppet Theatres and Movie Animations for Adults, Warsaw, Poland, 11-20 October. (6 performances)
http://lalkatezczlowiek.eu/en/
- Jihlava Documentary Film Festival, Jihlava, Czechia. 30,31 Oct.(6 performances)
- Alfred ve Dvore, Prague, Czech Republic, 10-11 Nov. (4 performances)
http://www.alfredvedvore.cz/cs/program/the-smooth-life--dafa-puppet-
theatre?pid=532&bck=index
- Akcent festival, Archa Theatre, Czech Republic, 25-26 Nov. (4 performances)
http://www.divadloarcha.cz/en/program/300
2016
- Internationale Welser Figurentheaterfestival, Austria, 3-9 March 2016. (7 performances)
http://www.figurentheater-wels.at/
- Arab Fest, Plzen, Czech Republic, 31 March. (2 performances)
http://www.figurentheater-wels.at/
- Alfred ve Dvore, Prague, Czech Republic, 31 March (4 performances)
http://www.figurentheater-wels.at/
- International Festival of Puppetry and Animated Forms – FIMFA Lx, Portugal, 16-22 May. (6 performances)
- Lithuania tour to Vilnuis at House of Puglu, Kaunaus at Ciop Ciop, Kaipeda at Koltoras faktoras, 11-13th October, organized by Paulina and Solo Renata. (6 performances)
- The 10th international documentary film festival in Vilnius, Lithuania, 15th October. (1 performance)
- Atalante Theatre, Goteborg, Sweden, 23rd October. (1 performance)
- Erasmus+, Youth Conference (Media and Education), 19th November. (2 performances)
- Divadlo Poton, Slovakia, 26-27 Nov. (2 performances)
2017
- Macau Fringe Festival, Macau, China, 17-22 January. (8 performances)
- Wels Puppet Festival, Austria, 9-16 March. (6 performances)
- Sprung Turm Theatre festival, Darmstadt, Germany, Aug. 11th&13th. (4 performances)
Darmstadt Puppet Festival, Germany, 25-27 August. (1 performance)
Hostpunkt festival, Norway, 14th to 16th Sep. (2 performances)
Theater Der Dinge, Schaubude, Berlin, Germany, 13-17 Oct. (5 performances)
Nad Prahou Pulmesic, Czech Republic, 22nd Nov., (2 performances)
2018
Babuk mini festival, Cluj, Romania, Jan. (2 performances)
Image festival Amman, Jordan, April (1 performance)
Arab Fest, Divadlo Na Cucky, Olomouc, Czech Republic, April . (6 performances)
Festival of Five Churches, Gyor, Hungary, 10-14 May. (5 performances)
Brno International Theatre Festival, 20, 21 May. (4 performances)
Polednik festival, Czech Rep., 17-20th Aug. (2 performances)
Metaculture, Kamenka, Praha, Czech Rep., 26th Aug. (1 performance)
Divadlo Continuo, Malovice, Czech Rep., 20-23rd Sep.(3 performances)
Metacultura, Prague, (2 performances), Oct.
Tabor, Czech Republic, 1 performance, Oct.
Valdštejnská Lodžie, Kulturní Imaginárium, Jicin, (2 performances) Czech Republic, 9th Nov.
Metacultura, Prague, Czech Republic, (2 performances), 5th & 6th Dec.
2019
Cross Cafe, Prague, Czech Republic, Jan.
Zizkovska Noc, Czech Republic, March (2 performances)
Roztoky, Czech Republic, March (1 performance)
The 4th International Festival of Independent Performing Arts Crossings, Slovenia, May (3 performances)
Floating on the road, Slovenia, August. (2 performances)
International festival WEITBLICK in Brunswick/Germany, 20-22nd October. (6 performances)
2020
Diakonie, Prague, Czech Republic, March.
LIVin Objects, Prague, Czech Republic, March.
Prague, Czech Republic, June 2020.
2021
Pod Tresni, Kladno, Czech Republic, July.
Monodrama Festival, Trencin, Slovakia, Oct. (2 performances)
Nekropolis Festival, Prague, Czech, Nov. (2 performances)
Thing-a-Magic Festival, Digital edition, India, Nov.
2023
Five Churches Festival, Gyor, Hungary, 9-13 May 2023.
2024
Tatwerk Berlin, Germany, 17&18th May 2024. (2 performances)
AW: Wunder Munich, Germany, Oct. 2024. (2 performances)
Nad Prahou Pulmesic, Praha, Czech Republic, Nov. 2024. (2 performances)
Coming performances:
2025
DAH Theatre, Serbia, May,
Opera Prima festival, Rovigo, Italy, June.
Dafa Theater
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