Members of the Al-Siraj Theater Troupe rehearse a scene from The Dove’s Bathhouse in Karbala. The play, set to run during Eid al-Adha, features a cast and crew made up entirely of people who are blind. Photo by 964media
'We don't offer answers'
Blind theater troupe to debut satirical Eid play in Karbala
KARBALA — A local theater troupe composed entirely of blind artists is preparing to stage what it says is Iraq’s first theatrical production fully written, directed, and performed by individuals who are blind.
The play, The Dove’s Bathhouse, will be performed June 8 and 9, the third and fourth days of Eid al-Adha, at 8 p.m. at the School Activity Theater near the central library in Karbala.
Set in a traditional bathhouse during the Ottoman occupation, the production uses satire and Iraqi dialect comedy to explore themes of oppression and injustice, drawing parallels between historical and present-day power dynamics.
“Al-Siraj Theater Troupe has performed many plays, but today we’re taking on a new and unique experience,” director Karrar Sadiq told 964media. “In the past, all the actors were blind except the writer and director. In this show, every member of the team — writer, director, and actors — is blind.”
“Through this experience, we want to prove the ability of blind people in directing, writing, and acting,” he said. “I hope we succeed in that.”
Sadiq said his directing approach blends realism with symbolism and involves an executive director role to help implement his vision. “I presented my entire vision along with movement and performance sketches, which are then executed on stage,” he said.
Writer Ali Al-Baseer described the play as a socially driven satire. “It carries satire in the Iraqi dialect,” he said. “Its central idea is about the oppressor and the oppressed — those roles have always existed in history. What happened during the Ottoman era is still happening today, but it’s useless to address these issues the same way they were handled in the past.”
“We try to pose questions through the play,” he added. “But we don’t offer answers — we leave that to the audience to decide how to change reality.”
Ahmed Hadi, who plays the bodyguard of a local Ottoman leader known as the subashi, said the cast works to express the struggles of everyday Iraqis through the performance. “We try to convey the suffering of society through the scenes of the play,” he said.
Hadi acknowledged the physical demands of his role. “The most difficult part is movement — the coordination of hands, legs, facial expressions, and also moving under stage lighting,” he said. “But with repeated practice, it becomes easier.”
The troupe said the production is not only meant to entertain but to challenge public perceptions about blindness and the creative potential of people with disabilities.
