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Event: Trojan Woman at AUK

Trojan Women
Directed by Christopher Gottschalk

Playing daily from the 21st to the 24th of January, 2009
Show starts at 8:00PM in the AUK Campus

Tickets are sold on campus for KD5 and also at the door before the show starts. Reservations can be made by calling 99093464 or 97323274.

Only females can watch the play. (segregation…)

52 replies on “Event: Trojan Woman at AUK”

wtf?? segregation in watching plays?

ok. no point debating this. we all know where it leads = ‘GTFO outta our country’

so.. umm why dont they have a only males day?

There’s not a cat in hell’s chance they are going to be able to segregate people on online chatting boards, blogs etc. Thank God for little mercies!

I just called one of the girls involved in this play, and she told me that they have to segregate the audience by law because the play is being hosted at a university. It was never their choice, but they have to respect the law.

Incidently, the girl also told me that many people at AUK have written letters againt this law to Nooriya Al-Sabeeh, Minister of Higher Education. I do not believe they have received a response from the Ministry yet.

Poor kids!

So they can have a male director, but no male audience members? How bizarre…I’m assuming that it’s an all female cast, which is strange because I did this play in college in the US (I was actually a theatre major), and I would be interested to see how they’re going to pull it off without any of the male characters (Agamemnon, Priam, Hector etc). I feel sad for the valuable experiences these students are missing out on by segregating something as rare and infrequent as the performing arts in Kuwait.

male characters are played by female students wearing masks.

the reason behind having a female-only audience is because it’s a female-only class, therefore males can’t even view the play.

having a male director working with female cast is just the same as having a male professor teaching a female class. it IS a drama class at AUK, you know!

*****************

ANYWAY, i’ve seen the girls rehearsing and THEY’RE REALLY GOOD.

so please, instead of opening up a can of worms with this whole segregation issue (IT’S GOING NOWHERE), why not tell your female friends/colleagues/family to check it out?

“I’m assuming that it’s an all female cast, which is strange because I did this play in college in the US (I was actually a theatre major), and I would be interested to see how they’re going to pull it off without any of the male characters (Agamemnon, Priam, Hector etc).”

The answer is simple, they just do what we have been doing for so many years in primary, middle, and secondary school. which is have girls dress up like guys and do the men’s roles…

AND THEN have the same people who inforced segregation and allowed this actions, complain about girls acting and pretending to be guys in real life.

What is happening in Kuwait is sad. Its petty to see how country being run and controlled by people who know nothing about life and the world and human beings. It is sad to see people who believe that segregation is the norm while in fact they’re applying on us what they hav been doing with their camels and goats all of their lives. By the ways, many beduins used to get killed by male camels when they are segregated from their females! lol. sad :/

“male characters are played by female students wearing masks.”

That’s totally fine since in Shakespeare’s days, both male and female roles were played by men, and it is sometimes done today to make an artistic statement. And I fully realize that our comments will most probably get us nowhere, but we can still discuss it.
In this case, I also commend the drama class for taking on such an ambitious piece of theatre – raping, pillaging, and the war crimes of the Trojan War. I am sure it’s okay to do that just as long male eyes don’t see it.

guys…
just see the social fabric of the western society nowadays, read history and have more knowledge about the reasons behind segregation. I am not talking about how and when to implement it but the whole concept of it. It is beneficial for a society. Because you dont want to repeat the history of European Dark ages, when they tried to follow their Kings, Priests and Bishops. Because their doctrine was to accumulate all the knowledge amongst themselves whereas the masses were kept away from knowledge and unaware. Therefore as a result in tems of today, the Christian doctrine is confined within the boundaries of the Church and the Europeans prosper. But in Muslims case it works the other way round. We had all the glory and dignity when we preached openly and strictly followed the Islamic doctrine. Whereas nowadays we are going towards abandoning our doctrine therefore we dont have a say or dignity in the world as it can be easily seen by the current affairs. We just follow what they say! no matter how they say!

“@3zeez … hahahahaahahaha i liked the camel segregation joke … !!! i know it can be true too … LOL”

Sadly, that wasn’t a joke. Its a true fact.

“just see the social fabric of the western society nowadays, read history and have more knowledge about the reasons behind segregation. I am not talking about how and when to implement it but the whole concept of it.”

The reason for segregation in Kuwait is really well known. For the past decade Kuwaits stopped raising their children as they have surrendered this role to the housemaids from the Philippines, india, srilanka, and indonesia who work in a house hold for two years and then be replaced by another.

This has lead to a generation of boys and girls who don’t understand right from wrong, halal from haram, and have no base for AKHLAQ.
I was at KU when they were about to start segregation and I remember what was the debate all about. SOME girls were making boyfriends, go out with them and even sleep with them. And I don’t blame the kids, i blame their parents for not raising them well if they believe our culture doesn’t accept such actions.

Now, is the government’s role to be a baby sitter? some people believe yes this is the role of the government. the gvnt has to baby sit us as the elected parliament members and other political figures and wealthy families strip the county our of its wealth.

if you go as far as u can in the history of kuwait, you’ll find out that boys and girls used to meet in secret. they used to talk in secret. and they continued to do it till before the 1980s and it was a taboo but still a normal thing that doesn’t get considered as a shameful act. my parents born and raised in khaldiya some 45 years ago. all boys and girls knew each others. they used to talk to each others… no they didn’t go out together, they didn’t sleep together… but if you meet an old man from khaldiya nowadays he’ll most definatly know each and every family in person be it male or female living in that area.

now if a guy talks to a girl then he’s committing ‘zina’!

true this convo is going to no where. it just saddens me to see whats going on in mycountry. i didn’t realize we were in so much sh!t till i moved away and started to look at things in different perspective.

here in the UK i’m living in a building full of young boys and girls. people who drink almost 12 hours a day, you may say the have no religion or AKHLAQ… yet I swear by God all Mighty I have never ever seen a girl dressed or acting like a prostitute the way we see in Kuwait. I swear by God I’ve never seen a ‘shameful’ act of those KUFAR the way we see in Kuwait. Hell, i never seen a naked girl in my flat (i’m living with 4 european guys) which i thought it was bound to happen with all the drinking going on.

@3azeez …

I agree with you 100% … coz when i ever i go for weekend to Dubai, i see different people, different nationality … but never seen a woman wearing such outfits wat i see in Kuwait marina malls, fanar and other malls … trust me man, i have seen girls wearing such outfits only in Bars ….

back to topic … i can only wish AUK girls all the best for their act in their theateric drama …

Well my point was not to go to Kuwait’s history…that is too short! After all, The English man made the maps for these countries on tissue papers. I am talking about the Global Islamic Era! How Zionists nowadays talk about Global Israel Era through mouth of the West. We didn’t have these petty issues in those Glorious days. We had big issues! Every individual unit of the Islamic economy was doing, thinking and acting larger than life. We need to Challenge nowadays society’s norms with aggression.

I 100% agree with you on Ikhlaaq thing…

The reason our girls are like this nowadays is that take for example you put some spices into a cooker and then keep it on fire for long time without keeping a check on it…what do you think will happen? It will burst!!

Meaning being… most of the girls are getting influenced at homes by things that are alien to our society norms and this is happening through “Television” – the ultimate source.

And when you see the results on the streets people think …How come?

There is a grave leadership vacuum in the whole Muslim world. The leadership’s tone and vision makes the fate of the society’s men and women. When they themselves are unclear about the concept of Hijabs/dressing modesties etc. then what do you expect from the society to do?

We are all just a bunch of sleeping elephants! but we might need to wake up soon…

In the old days such a transgression of the arts and theatre would have seen the Trojan man go to Trojan war over “Trojan women”.
Do we know if the cultural and psychological annexation of Kuwait by Saudi Arabia is complete now ?

Universities in Kuwait should be arenas of discourse, of exchange of ideas, flexibility, civic role models for creativity, openness, tolerance – unfortunately they are not.

They are in the grip of fear, this Islamic McCarthysim that is spreading everywhere has even reached our educational institutions. Students are not even allowed to *write* about segregation or challenge it.

Ive read very good arguments Ive never heard ever since segregation came to the surface, is it because its easier to talk anonymously?

People please SPEAK UP, things are reaaallyy getting worse.

Do something before its tool late, You can start by joining sout al Kuwait:

http://www.soutalkuwait.com

Anyone walk into the Faculty of Science or Faculty of Medicine at KU and you’ll see this segregation is a lot of bull / it just is not there. Except IN classes..
Going to the KU Faculty of GIRLS, you’ll see only girls of course!

This is vey true wats happening in Kuwait about the segregation law is sad and pethetic … i dont see a point in having segregation ANYWHERE including in plays. its just a play!!! besides all plays in Kuwait are NOT segregated so why this play? im one the peopel who have written a letter to the ministry of higher education and i havent recieved anything from anyone … and about having a male day… we cant do that because all cast and crew are females Excluding the director (Professor) . so please help to get rid of the segregation law because its just a waste. Thank You everyone. : )

Hello everyone,

I have seen the comments and almost all of them are talking about the segregation topic rather than the play its self!! :S
I am one of the students in the production team, and i am telling you all that the play is VERY VERY VERY AMAZINGGG. The students along with the teacher are showing a great effort by changing the drama studio to a real set of Trojan atmosphere with columns and everything. Also, the actors are doing an amazing job and what makes it even more amazing is the the female students are playing the male characters !!!

Regarding to the segregation issue, we are doing all what can do to end this problems. We are sending letters and making events like Anti-Segregation week.

So, please focus on the play itself, come and enjoy, ask you friends, family, and colleagues to witness and experience the tragedy of the Trojan Women by all AUK students 😛

Thank you all 😀

Maryam, contact Rai and Watan TV and have them cover the event. If AUK don’t allow that, arrange for interviews with the cast of the play. This is the only way AUK can come to their senses because plays are not segregated in Kuwait or in Kuwait University for that matter.

Lool Kuwait reminds me of the the movie IDIOCRACY lool…to get rid of the segregation law..LOOL…FIRST of all people should now some members in the kuwaiti parliament have not even graduated from elementry 😀 how about if u let ur 13 year old bro or sister be part of the parilment…Again if anyone saw Idiocracy you would know the future of kuwait 😀 Future of kuwait..MORE single women, more corruption. SO i bet kuwait will never get better,,it will only get worse..

How hypocritical (of the powers that be).They’re requesting that the Minister of Education,who doesn’t wear a head scarf,exempt the play from segregation.

How ironic… even the AMERICAN university of kuwait, that should express democracy and gender equality, is segregated! So glad i studied over seas and got to live my life to the fullest without having to deal with this nonsense and backwardness. I pity every college student that spent
their college years in this place.

“Meaning being… most of the girls are getting influenced at homes by things that are alien to our society norms and this is happening through “Television” – the ultimate source.”

So? If islamists weren’t banning females sports, girls wouldn’t be at home watching tv 24/7.
if islamists weren’t banning creativity be it through literature or any other form of arts, girl’s wouldn’t be on the internat looking up guys 24/7.
if islamists weren’t banning each and every single possible mean of innocent joy, girls wouldn’t feel so oppressed with only clothes their only means to express themselves.

“kryptonite”- AUK is a university does express democracy and gender equality but as long as its in kuwait it has to respect and obay the laws otherwise it will get shut down… the law of seggregation is not wanted by approximatly 85% of the students but they cant do anything about it. students have written and sighned many letters but whos listening? NO-ONE!!!! As for me i haved over seas since my childhood and the only reason i came back is because in the end no matter for how long you live over seas there no place like your homeland. But that doesnt meen that i like everything thats going on here (Kuwait) especially seggregation.
P.S. “doublestandards ” love ur comment ;p

This whole segregation farce has my friend who works with the UN quip that very soon they might start to think about segregating male and female infants in maternity wards in Kuwaiti hospices.
Or imagine if they forbid husbands from sharing bedrooms with their wives. Yes, husbands may only bunk with their brother-in-laws and wives with their sister-in-laws. Ouuch! So much for Internet and satellite TV in Kuwait!

so do something about it!!!! all you guys ever do is complain complain complain, but no REAL action is ever taken!!! it takes more than a few blog posts to create change, people!

What? Who? When? I’ve been gone for too long, I have no idea about this whole segregation issue. Anyone here know to what extent this segregation law will be enforced?

lol how ironic, this is summarised as BS. I don’t know why you posted it here Mark since most your viewers are males and you yourself can’t even attend the show. Let them advertise it in a womens magazine or something so guys wouldn’t know about it and reignite the segregation issue.i cannot emphasize how absurd segregation is in this country. Never thought i’d see the day of a female-only show.. were not too far from lesbo’s-only i suppose.

why would i recommend a show i can’t attend because i’m male to a friend ?!
i mean logically.. actually there isn’t much logic in this entire show

well lets just hope someone grows a brain.. an open minded one and changes some segregation rules cause they are way out of line.

Didn’t they know a seemingly innocuous issue such as segregation can spark off civil war? Or are they vainly trying to erase Martin Luther King from the annals of history?

I dont see the point of segregation, because the girls and boys are separated only in the classrooms. They still use the same campus, so outside the classrooms they’re talking to each other like normal…

here it goes once again…

mark have you any idea that ur the one who starts these conflicts ?!!!

its either you want tons of posts,or ur hatred to kuwaities…

if nuthing is 3ajbik in kuwait…then why are u here??

you could’ve simply wrote ur post without ” (segregation…) ”

ur in kuwait to make a living..not to change laws !

“ur in kuwait to make a living..not to change laws !”

There doesn’t seem to be any indicator that anyone is trying to change laws with this blog. What is very apparent is some pretty hefty anger and frustration with segregation in Kuwait that seems selective and not representative of the cultural scene at large in the country. As an expat working here myself, I am constantly eager to find art and cultural events. What strikes me as absurd is that AUK seems to have to segregate theater but not KU or the other school plays I see in the papers. Further, I’ve been going to KLT (Kuwait Little Theater) for years and have enjoyed many productions with men AND women sharing the stage. So why is this segregation seemingly limited to AUK’s theater? And why is it not surprising? In my humble opinion, Kuwait is full of hypocrisy and contradiction. For a dry country, I’ve seen more alcohol and drug use among citizens here that would make many Westerners shudder. Until Kuwaitis want to acknowledge their own behaviors, both public and private, nothing will change.

but hey, what do I know– I’m just an expat here “to make a living…not to change the laws!” But maybe the country shouldn’t invite us here if they don’t want to hear our opinions. It might be a bit unrealistic to ask for our professional expertise but then shun our opinions when it comes to the social fabric we’re expected to contribute to.

It would seem that “Trojan Women” has every Tom, Dick and Jamal in this country wanting to get into Christopher Gottschalk’s pants. LMAO

As a take-off on this, the next AUK theatre production should have an all male ensemble to enact both male and female characters, and be restricted to viewing by males only. This time rope in a female director to square the circle.

I think that while the segregation debate is very valid, what’s being overlooked is the remarkable step forward by even having a western liberal arts program at all. While I may be an outsider with a limited perspective, I do happen to know the director personally, and understand the pains that he has gone through to get to this point. Yes equality is not yet shared by all citizens in the world, far from it, but I feel that we must remember that the rise of such rights exists on stepping stones, and will not occur over night.
Kuwait, like most of the world, is at a point of severe transition and social merging, and it is all of our responsibilities to support and positively affect and instigate this change.
I am sorry to miss this production, I am sure that is very much worth seeing.

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