Bill Shakespeare Makes it Back to Kabul

This was a story from last week, but I’ve been meaning to mention it. I was interested to read about a production of ‘Love’s Labor Lost’ in Kabul. Theatre, of course, was banned during the Taliban rule:

“Theater is the best way to communicate messages in Afghanistan, whether it be about peace, democracy or women’s rights. It’s much more popular than television,” said Aziz Elyas, an Afghan playwright. “But during the Taliban’s time, it wasn’t allowed. They said Islam forbid it.”

More popular than television? I must move to Afghanistan.

Unlike some of my artsier colleagues, I’m not a proponent of art as a great panacea. However, there are clearly times when it can help a culture to heal (or mourn or celebrate and so forth). I’d have thought Macbeth might have been a more appropriate choice, but maybe they were looking for a comedy.