The visual representation of women’s struggles in Upper Egypt: a case study of Ṭāhā Ḥusayn’s Du‘āʾ al-Karawān (Call of the Curlew)

The art of theatre is one of the most powerful forms of popular culture. It serves as an expression of a society’s values as well as a tool for confronting its challenges. Theatre has the ability to raise and discuss pressing social issues, offering a platform for change. The visual and aesthetic framework of a theatrical performance plays a central role in shaping the audience’s experience; by transforming the text into a vivid, immersive reality. It is through scenography that the invisible in the text becomes visible, allowing meaning to unfold visually and narratively on stage. This research explores the process of develpoing visual scenography for the theatrical performance Call of the Curlew, adapted from Ṭāhā Ḥusayn’s novel and performed by the National Troupe in Luxor in 2019. The study investigates how design can visually embody Ḥusayn’s call for cultural transformation and social reformation, particularly his advocacy for women's rights and social justice. It examines how the visual language of theatre can communicate enduring issues of gender inequality in modern Upper Egypt. Additionally, the research explores how visual elements create a cohesive production that reflects the region’s cultural heritage and its contemporary realities. Among the study’s findings, we conclude that the visual representation of Call of the Curlew plays a crucial role in visually narrating the complex themes of the text, offering a deeper understanding of its symbolism and aesthetic dimensions.