Samuel Beckett in the UAE

It’s the 70th anniversary of the world première of Waiting for Godot, and this symposium (bilingual in English and French) muses about its impact – and especially its appearance in both English and French. Given the musicality of its language, how best can it be translated into Arabic? What does it have to say to Arabic audiences? What is Beckett’s theatre legacy in the Middle East?

The speakers:

• Alexandre Najjar Beirut-based lawyer, translator and writer. Deeply influenced by the work of Samuel Beckett, he published L’Amour ne se commande pas in 2020, dedicated to the life of the Irish writer
• Karine Germoni A Beckett specialist, Dr Germoni is Associate Professor in French Language and Literature at Paris-Sorbonne Université, and since 2021 heading of the French Studies and the French as a foreign language Departments at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi
• Hana Subhi has been teaching French as a Foreign Language and French Literature for many years, since 2006 at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi. Dr Subhi has published many articles and has translated numerous works
• Padraig Downey Multi-award-winning director and theatre educator, founder of Danú Dubai Theatre, and the first theatre director to be awarded a UAE Golden Visa.  Currently he is involved in cultural and educational initiatives for KSA’s Vision 2030.

This event is sponsored by the Irish Embassy and is organised in partnership with the French Embassy, the Lebanese Embassy, Lycée français Louis Massignon, Lycée français International Théodore Monod and Brighton College Abu Dhabi.