The play Aasheqeen Torabek, or In Love with Your Soil, has ran for the past two days without the changes proposed by the censorship committee. “The play opened without any changes and it will continue to go on without any changes,” said director Mohamed El Sharkawy. “The solidarity stand seems to have delivered the message that freedom of expression is untouchable.”
The director of the play had organised a solidarity protest with several celebrities, actors and revolutionaries like Saber Fawzy, Ahmed Doma and Ultras football fans.
“The play will run for another 30 days and we will continue operating as scheduled,” said El Sharkawy. “After the public has been made aware of the censorship attempts, it will be more difficult for them to do this again.”
The play’s director was approached by the censorship committee and asked to remove scenes which criticised the current regime such as a scene featuring bearded actors and another which mentioned Prime Minister Hesham Qandil by name. Since no official decision has been taken, however, El Sharkawy is not legally bound to remove anything from the play. The play will continue showing at the Balloon theatre’s Salah Jahin hall.
