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LAU Faculty Profile
Lina Abyad: Theater is my passion by lau Staff
“LAU has allowed me to fulfill my dreams, taught me what good production means, and given me freedom to choose my topics.”
Dr. lina abyad, assistant professor in lau’s Department of Communication arts, has directed more than 20 plays since returning to lebanon in 1997, after completing her postgraduate studies in France at the Sorbonne nouvelle, Paris iii. abyad has also adapted and translated several plays into arabic, and has run acting workshops in beirut and elsewhere in the region. most recently, she directed “Kafka,” lau’s major spring theater production this year. the years abyad spent studying and working in Paris have had a major influence on her life and career. “Paris is not an ordinary city,” said abyad. “the whole city impacts you.” Still, abyad has found that theater, no matter its context, has a magical power over its audience. the strength of theatrical language, the body movement of actors, the synergy among performers, all make theater universal, while also specific to the culture from which it emerges. lau magazine recently chatted with abyad about her unique background and what makes her work stand out.
Q&A LAU MAG: Aside from directing plays, you also started a pioneering program with the School of Medicine at LAU. How did this happen? abYaD: i was approached by the dean of the medical school to participate in the lau medical school’s Standardized Patient instructor program, the first of its kind in lebanon, designed to simulate doctor-patient scenarios. i was asked to train volunteers to act and behave as patients, as well as train medical students to interact, listen and communicate with patients effectively. the goal was to create a realistic medical examination that will help students enhance their clinical and communication skills.
What attracted you to academia? i still have the words of my parents in my mind: “You can’t live from theater in beirut. You need a real job.” teaching at a university has allowed me to still follow my passion, but also to communicate my knowledge to future generations. What are your future plans? lau is the platform for all my plays. they all start here, and then move around. i see myself in 10 years still working at lau, in the Gulbenkian theater, surrounded by the best equipment and technicians, working with greatly talented students. lau has allowed me to fulfill my dreams, taught me what good production means, and given me freedom to choose my topics.
You studied in English and in French, but most of your work is in Arabic. How do you explain this diversity? i have worked in French and english, but when i came back to lebanon, i felt that i needed to communicate with people in their own language so they can relate and interact with the play. actors also need to feel the play. Your plays are sometimes rated as difficult. How would you respond to such a statement? i usually choose plays with political and social themes that talk about the world, and not art for art’s sake. besides being aesthetic and beautiful, theater is also mirroring our society, raising critical questions. each play had a social message to portray and expose. in this era of wars, hate and injustice, theater is a necessity to awaken our senses and feelings. my plays are hard because they address reality, and our reality is sad. the truth hurts and awakens our inner repressed feelings.
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“I usually choose plays with political and social themes that talk about the world, and not art for art’s sake.”