South Darfur bans play about Sudanese revolution

March 25, 2022 (NYALA) – The security services in Sudan’s South Darfur State suspended a Nyala theatre’s production of a play about the December revolution that overthrew former President al-Bashir.

The Interactive Theater Group of the Bishish Cultural Center in Nyala had planned the presentation of a play entitled “In the Days of Fear” at the El-Beheir Theater within the Nyala Theater Festival, which started last Tuesday.

A member of El-Beheir Theater told Sudan Tribune that a security force likely to be affiliated with the General Intelligence Service, “summoned the play’s director, Muammar Gaddafi, Muhyiddin, and asked him to moderate the content of the texts.

“So, they banned the play when he refused their request,” he added.

Since the coup of October 2021, General al-Burhan imposed the state of emergency, which gives security services broad powers enabling them to restrict freedoms.

After the start of the theatre festival in Nyala on March 22nd, the GIS personnel several times discussed the content of plays with the organizers because they deal with the new realities after the political changes in Sudan.

The security services event cut off electricity supply from the festival on the second day, according to the organizer who declined to be identified.

The Interactive Theater group organizes activities aiming to raise awareness about peace and democratic issues through theatre in various regions of Sudan.

(ST)