Shakespeare’s Dramaturgy in the History of Arab Theatre
Shakespeare’s Dramaturgy in the History of Arab Theatre

Summary/Abstract: The studies and monographs published over the years leave no doubt as to the great significance of Shakespeare’s works for Arabic drama and theatre. The Lebanese writer Michail Nuayma went so far as to say “Shakespeare remains a Ka’ba to which we make pilgrimages, and a Qib-la to which we turn in prayer.” No doubt the words of one of the leading writers of Syrian-American school cause huge surprise and even consternation. At the same time they encourage us to reflect on the ways of reading and interpreting Shakespearean drama in the Arab world. This article aims to show the reception of William Shakespeare’s plays in Arab theatre starting from first attempts of staging his works until their contemporary interpretations and attempts to formulate a response to the question of what has made Shakespeare remain continuously one of the closest Western playwrights to the Arab culture for more than a century.

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