Laila Soliman (born in 1981) is an independent Egyptian theatre director and playwright living in Cairo but currently working wherever possible.
She studied at the German School (DSB, Cairo) and obtained her BA in theatre at the American University in Cairo and her MA at Dasarts (AHK) in Amsterdam.
Her work stems from an interest in the state of flux in the contemporary socio-political climate and its influence on individuals, relationships, and power structures. It relies on collective memories and personal histories as ways of bridging the gap between the official versions of events and intimate, individual experiences.
Her performances have been shown in Egypt, Tunisia, Lebanon, Syria, India, South Africa, and various countries in Europe.
Amongst the most important works she directed are “The Retreating World” (2004), “Ghorba, images of alienation” (2006), “…At your service!” (2009), “Spring Awakening in the Tuktuk” (2010), “No Time for Art 0/1/2/3” (20111_2013), “Hawa ELhorreya, Whims of Freedom” (2014), “The National Museum of the State Security System” (2015), “Zigzig”(2016), “Museum of Lungs” (2018), “Wanaset Yodit” (2020).
Her first Opera, “Woman at Point 0” (2022), recently premiered.
Courses Taught
This course will explore the spectrum of theater, performance and performative installation making while taking autobiography and the self as a starting point. It will explore the self not only in its current state as a human being but also as an animal, object, and imagined superhero. In doing that, the context will always be a reference to start since no one and nothing stands alone in real and imagined life. In this practice-based course, the students will think, research, write, conceptualize, try, rehearse and perform.
Previously taught: Spring 2023, Fall 2 2023, Spring 2024
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Core Curriculum > Arts, Design, and Technology
Majors > Literature and Creative Writing > Creative Writing
Majors > Theater > Arts Practice
Minors > Creative Writing
Students begin to build a performance vocabulary by using a range of techniques for translating the actor's imagination into stage action. Students are introduced to the internal and external demands of turning creative impulse into behavior, and explore acting fundamentals such as exploring text by connecting it to physical action; responding fully to one's acting partner; personalizing fictional material; and exploring the role of actor-as-creator via games, improvisations, and exercises; scene work; ensemble techniques; and solo performance.
Previously taught: Fall 2016, Spring 2017, Fall 2017, Fall 2018, Fall 2019, Fall 2020, Fall 2022, Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Fall 2024
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Majors > Film and New Media > Media Practice Courses
Majors > Theater > Arts Practice
Minors > Film and New Media
Minors > Theater
The curriculum focuses on the creation and consideration of costumes in live theatrical performance. Anchored in dialogue with contemporary arts philosophies in visual arts, design and fashion, an investigatory approach is taken to consider what it means to clothe, dress and adorn the body for performance. Sociological investigations: how clothes 'perform' on bodies in the present and past; why people wear what they wear; correlations to larger global phenomena (the fashion system, social media, history of regional and vernacular communities) will be key in designing costumes for real and fictionalized characters. Through theoretical projects, students will begin a design process, going through a sequence of steps: dramaturgical analysis, gathering pictorial and relevant research; engaging creative imagination, and visualizing designs through sketching and collage to create a concrete presentation of designs, ideas, transformations. Projects will include text-based drama, opera, dance and performance art. Emphasis is on experimentation, creativity and collaborative process within a creative team. Lab and workshop sessions in conjunction with the NYUAD costume shop accompany class.
Previously taught: Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2 2024
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Majors > Art and Art History > Art History Electives
Majors > Theater > Arts Practice
Minors > Design
Minors > Theater
This course introduces the students to Documentary Theater and explores the different ways to make it. Students will learn to identify their personal sense of urgency in relation to the world. Students will learn exercises to help them to utilize research as a way to create a performance. They will create three projects during the semester exploring the different possible starting points as well as different relationships between form and content.