Acculturation And The Question Of Indigenization In Arab Theater: Illuminating The Theatrical Experience Of Saadallah Wannous And Ezzedine Djellouji

Abstract

 

 This study examines the dialectic between Western acculturation and indigenous development in Arab theater, evaluating the extent of cross-cultural assimilation. It analyzes how practitioners integrate cultural heritage to foster creatively authentic works rooted in the Arab context. Findings reveal that theater makers selectively adapt Western traditions while leveraging heritage to forge a distinct performance identity. This indigenization is exemplified by Wannous’s intertextuality and Djellouji’s narrative-driven alternatives to conventional dramatic structure.