Marwa Manai

She/ her
I am Tunisian born and bred and I moved to York, England in October 2021. My career in theatre started in 2015 when I was already a tenured associate professor of English literature at the University of Tunis. I collaborated essentially with the Tunisian National Theatre in international touring productions as assistant director, actress, playwright and stage director.
I am anchored in a theatrical practice that is based in the text. A firm believer in the power of words -and the power in the lack thereof when verbal economy is warranted- I have developed my experience starting from the text. Additionally, at the era of images where advertisements alone have exponentially bombarded both urban and virtual spaces, creating impactful images is one of my main concerns. As I make the transition towards more conceptual visual performances I ponder a lot on the question of space and its influence on performance not as mere background but as a factor of creation. Site-based performances keep the work in continuous flux, listening to the space, adhering to its requirements, being organically anchored in it opens new realms for imagination and creative potential. I enjoy developing performances that flout borders by experimenting with various media and spaces for story-telling. These include videos, recordings, and live performances that use the written word to delve into a world that is half-way between theatre and conceptual art.

Thematically my work revolves around the human condition. I work on a-geographical stories that could be implemented anywhere to tackle themes that are related to the deepest recesses of the human psyche. Being a bi-lingual writer widens the scope even further as I bring both worlds into my practice. My quest is beyond linguistic barriers and culture-bound expectations. If there is one word that can sum up the work I have produced so far, various as it may be, it is solitude. I believe that solitude is the throbbing heart and the drive behind human interaction. We are an intricate web of juxtaposing solitudes and when these cross paths, light gushes out. This is revealed in extreme situations so I am interested in work that is vibrant, borderline and intense.

Credits

Playwright, director and performer, On the Threshold, B7L9 Art Station, on-going, 2020

Playwright and stage director , The Name of the Father, Tunisian National Theatre, 2 years (ongoing), 2019

Playwright and performer, Ancra-je, B7L9 Art station, 1 week, 2020

Co-writer and actress, Fears, Tunisian National Theatre, 2 years, 2017

Co-writer and actress, Fenetres Sur, Tunisian National Theatre, 2 weeks, 2016

Assistant director, Violences, Tunisian National Theatre, 4 years, 2015

Training

UNIVERSITY OF YORK, UK- Department of Theatre Television and Interactive Media
MA in Theatre-Making | Class of 2022

PRACTICAL SCHOOL IN PERFORMING ARTS- Tunisian National Theatre
Acting diploma and admission in the Young National Theatre company | Class of 2016

SEMINAIRE A AVIGNION | July 2021

THE OCTOPUS PROGRAM | Kamel Lazaar Foundation and the University of Applied Arts of Vienna |March-September 2020

ACT NOW PROGRAM | International Cultural Center of Hammamet| January 2019-March 2020

"TECHNIQUES DE L’ACTEUR”|Training with Philippe Calvario and Jacques Blanc. Institut Français de Tunis | January 2017

TUNIS ON THE COUCH | Training with the French National Agency of Urban Psychoanalysis | May- June 2015

“THE TEXT IN THE BODY” | Training with Louise Vignaud March 2015

"THE ACTOR AND HIS DOUBLE" | Training with Fadhel Jaibi |
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Center of Dramatic Arts of Kairouan | 2014