Despite the various crises the country is facing, the Lebanese artistic scene is resilient – particularly in theater – where demand and dynamism continue to grow. Because of this, the Institute of scenic, audiovisual and cinematographic studies (Iesav), affiliated with the Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences at Saint Joseph University (USJ), decided to relaunch the theater option for its performing arts degree after a long hiatus.

"Our Béryte Theater, highly sought after by professional troupes and our master's and doctoral theater programs, coveted by students from other institutions, made it clear that relaunching the theater option for the degree was necessary," Toufic al-Khoury, director of Iesav, said. "We launched our performing arts degree in Egypt, in partnership with ESLSCA University, a French business school that has expanded its offerings by opening an arts faculty. This co-degree involves content transfer, with the condition that Iesav teachers travel to Egypt and that ESLSCA students earn credits at Iesav once a year. Their interest in theater studies also drives us to relaunch this option in Lebanon."

A holistic approach

The innovation of the performing arts degree, particularly the theater program offered, lies in its holistic approach to stage art, its interdisciplinarity, and especially its relationship with audiovisuals, explained Khoury.

"A student must know all the aspects of the profession they wish to pursue to navigate it. An actor is not just an actor; they are someone who knows how to read texts. A playwright is not just a playwright; they also direct actors and have knowledge of lighting, scenography, and sound," he stated.

This comprehensive vision of stage art is made possible by Iesav's infrastructure, equipped with facilities, devices, and software such as scenography rooms, film studios, computer rooms for editing, sound studios, performance spaces, and audiovisual equipment that allow students to carry out their work and projects entirely within the institute. It also reflects the institute's and the academic and professional team's commitment to training "chameleon" artists and researchers, Khoury said.

"The theater and film market is not straightforward. For us, the most important thing is to provide students with the tools needed to adapt and succeed in their field," he added. "It involves assuming the specific responsibilities of each profession covered by the degree."

What exactly are these professions?

"All professions related to theater and audiovisuals. Although most of our graduates hold positions directly related to these fields, some also work in professions they encountered during practical projects during their degree, such as assistant director or casting director," Khoury explained. "Through the degree, the various training programs we offer, practical projects, and the Iesav Professional Lab — a structure that connects students to the professional audiovisual and theater sector by establishing links with key industry players—we strive to assist our students as best as possible."

Iesav also takes pride in its many partnerships with international universities: "We offer exchange scholarships with universities in various European countries, thereby providing students the opportunity to discover new horizons, explore different programs, immerse themselves in new professional environments, and join diverse student communities. This international mobility is a priority for us," Khoury stated, adding, "At the local level, collaboration with cultural institutions is also very important to us. We have agreements with Etijahat, a cultural organization founded in Belgium but governed by a local council composed of artists, which finances two scholarships annually for master's students, mainly in theater. We also collaborate with Zoukak Theatre Company, and our faculty for the degree and master's includes many theater professionals."

Workshops in collaboration with the orientation service

In relaunching the theater option for the performing arts degree, workshop days are organized to introduce this field to high school students. These workshops, led by theater and film professionals, offer participants the opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of stage art and gain a better understanding of the various aspects of this discipline.

On Jan. 22, Junaid Sariedeen, actor, playwright and director, introduced theatrical art and stage presence to participants, including high school students and candidates for the theater program.

Jana Bou Matar, theater creator, actress, writer and master's theater student at Iesav, spoke about the importance of imagination in the artistic process.

Mariane Fayad and Nour Dimashkieh, filmmakers and master's of cinema students, allowed cinema program candidates and high school students to discover the world of filmmaking, directing, and the various elements of a film set.

This workshop was offered again on Feb. 1.

On Saturday, Feb. 22, Ali Shahrour, dancer and choreographer, and Rita al-Basha, theater practitioner and researcher, both theater master's alumni, will respectively lead a contemporary dance, dramaturgy, and writing workshop. The performing arts degree with a theater option is open to all enthusiasts of live performance, artistic expression, and stage creation, offering comprehensive and dynamic training for those who wish to pursue a career in the world of stage art.