Theater's Dark Side: Abuse of Power Exposed

Nazareth Hassan's play 'Practice' offers a chilling exploration of power dynamics within the theater industry. The narrative centers on a manipulative director who recruits actors for an experimental performance, subtly encouraging their psychological unraveling under the guise of artistic growth. This setup creates a 'systematized manipulation,' where artists eagerly surrender their autonomy.

The play unfolds in two acts, first depicting the rehearsal process where actors are led to reveal personal traumas and submit to a 'accountability' system. The second act showcases the resulting performance, a disturbing outcome of the director's influence. Hassan's work serves as a searing exposé, criticizing theater's entanglement with power.

'Practice' functions as investigative theater, exposing the dark undercurrents of artistic creation. While the story is fictional, it reflects real-world scenarios of exploitation within artistic communities. The play ultimately argues for an 'exorcism' of power from theater, highlighting the need for critical examination of abusive structures.