Doing Theatre in times of war

Preface 9 Introduction 13 Chapter I The journeys of cultural entrepreneurs and theatrical experiments under colonial rule in Algeria: 1950–1962 Theatre in colonial Algeria: French mimicry, cultural vocations and political stakes 17 Theatre and politics 25 Popular theatre on the ground 28 Chapter II Theatrical projects and practices under colonial rule A national and Algerian theatre: contrasting perceptions and observations 46 Structural constraints and personal experiences 53 A shared observation, varied recommendations 62 Chapter III Cultural catch-up and political timelines A theatre scene in the making? 69 Plans for the future of theatre in Algeria: from the Cordreaux report (1959) to the Elgozy report (1960) 71 Avignon in the Oran region 77 Chapter IV Men caught between political constraints and theatrical exploration: Raymond Hermantier/ Ould Abderrahmane Kaki/ Abdelkader Alloula Raymond Hermantier/Abdelkader Alloula: a thwarted potential 87 Ould Abderrahmane Kaki, the fulfilment of an artistic destiny (1956–1962) 103 By way of summary 116 General conclusion 117 Bibliography 121 Appendices 131 Appendix 1: Biographies 131 Appendix 2: Documents relating to the history of theatre in the 1950s 133

This work attempts to document and examine the multifaceted theatrical activity in Algeria from the end of the Second World War until 1962. It aims to demonstrate cultural practices and engagements within the theatrical field against a backdrop of the developing and widespread struggle for independence. This era saw the proliferation of Muslim troupes and the emergence of new figures among actors and troupe leaders. It was a time of experimentation, diverse theatrical projects, and several attempts to build inter-community bridges. The contributions of Mustapha Kateb, Réda Falaki, Henri Cordreaux, Geneviève Bailac, and Raymond Hermantier are explained from a fresh perspective, and the first steps of several leaders of post-independence Algerian theatre, such as Ould Abderrahmane Kaki and Abdelkader Alloula, are retraced.