Author: Susanne Schanda

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Laila Soliman′s documentary piece ″Zig Zig″ (photo: Christian Altdorfer/Ruud Gielens)

Arab theatre at the Zurich Theaterspektakel

Between coma and protest

Political theatre from the Arab world five years after the Arabellion: from a country in a permanent vegetative state comes the piece "While I Was Waiting" by the Syrian playwright Mohammad Al Attar. And in "Zig Zig," an Egyptian theatre group headed by Laila Soliman tells the tale of a gang rape. By Susanne SchandaMore

Interview with the Egyptian theatre director Laila Soliman: Revolutions past and presentArt and revolution in the Arab world in 2015: Struggling against the restoration of "order"Jenin's Freedom Theatre celebrates 10 years: What′s next for ″cultural resistance″?
Youssef Rakha, Egyptian author, essayist and journalist (photo: Susanne Schanda)

Interview with the Egyptian author Youssef Rakha

"Taken together, these things would make up home..."

The Egyptian poet, essayist, novelist and journalist Youssef Rakha moves between two worlds. He aims to show his Western readers an eclectic Cairo beyond common cliches. Interview by Susanne SchandaMore

Book review: Basma Abdel Aziz′s ″The Queue″: Disturbingly prescientBook review: Tawfiq al-Hakim's "The Revolt of the Young": A revolutionary manual for older generationsInterview with Ahmed Maher: "The next revolution will certainly come"
A reading in Cairo, Egypt (photo: Nael El Toukhy/DW)

Egyptian Literature

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New Departures, New Visions

Current novels from Egypt tell about people's daily struggle for survival, about their suffering in the face of state violence and corruption, and about managing to get by with the help of tricks and humour. Egyptian literature is available in translation in various forms – from the spontaneous blog to the social novel. By Susanna SchandaMore

Interview with Egyptian Writer Khaled Alkhamissi: ''We Are Living in a Vibrant Social Era'Literature and the Arab Spring: An Uprising of WordsAlaa al-Aswani's ''On the State of Egypt'': ''Democracy Is the Solution''
Youssef Ziedan (photo: Susanne Schande)

Interview with Youssef Ziedan

Revolution Means Breaking with Authority

Youssef Ziedan is a bestselling Egyptian author, philosopher and scholar of history. He is also director of the Manuscript Division of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the New Library of Alexandria. In this interview with Susanne Schanda, he says that being revolutionary is also about asking questions of authorityMore

Youssef Ziedan's Novel ''Azazeel'': In Case of Doubt, Choose DoubtInterview with Shahenda Maklad: ''The Revolutionary Forces Should Close Ranks''
Khaled Ali (photo: Susanne Schanda)

Interview with Egyptian presidential candidate Khaled Ali

''I'm expecting a second revolutionary wave''

At aged 40, Khaled Ali is the youngest candidate standing in the Egyptian presidential elections. The left wing lawyer and human rights activist enjoys widespread support among the more disadvantaged members of society. Susanne Schanda met Khaled Ali at his Cairo officeMore

Presidential Race in Egypt: Political Power Games on the NilePresidential Candidate Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh: Egypt's Future Middle-Ground Man?Interview with George Ishak: ''We Need a New Revolution''
Syrian author Samar Yazbek (photo: Susanne Schanda)

Interview with Samar Yazbek

Conveying the Suffering of the Syrian People

In her "Damascene Diaries", the Syrian writer and journalist Samar Yazbek documents the first months of the revolution. Since she has been in exile, she sees how Syrians have been left utterly alone. She has made it her task to give them a voice. Susanne Schanda met the author for an interview in ZurichMore

The Syrian Uprising: Assad Will Fall, But What Will Follow?The West and Syria: It's Time to ActCreative Protest against Syria's Regime: The Puppet Rebellion