A PLAY PERFORMED BY THE INMATES OF ROUMIEH PRISON
DIRECTED & WRITTEN BY
ZEINA DACCACHE
Screening
At Metropolis Empire Sofil, Achrafieh
December 9, 10 & 11, 2016
AT 8:30 PM
After the success of the performances inside Roumieh Prison in May 2016, Johar Up in the Air will be screened for 3 nights at Metropolis Cinema on 9, 10, 11 Dec 2016.
“Johar…Up in the air” sheds the light on inmates suffering from a mental illness and inmates sentenced to life, both has a common fate: staying in prison forever and ever. Indeed, the Lebanese penal code states that “insane” prisoners should be incarcerated in a special psychiatry unit until the appointed tribunal decides to end such incarceration upon evidence of “cured from insanity”. However, no accurate definition is provided as to what insanity entails and mental illness is usually managed not “cured”. And how is it possible in the 21st century, to use the word “insane”?
From these inmates’ stories (some suffer from mental illnesses and others are sentenced to life), the new play has emerged. The inmates will tell the stories of the forgotten, through monologues and short scenes. As one of the inmates says in one scene: “my mental illness and the prison are a double punishment”.
Hopefully, this new project will lead to a policy change. In August 2016, Catharsis in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice submitted 2 draft laws aiming for a suitable Legislation for Mentally ill Inmates & Inmates Sentenced to Life.
This play is in the framework of The Untold Story of Forgotten Behind Bars, a project implemented by Catharsis, funded by the European Union and in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior & Municipalities and the Ministry of Justice. This project objective revolves around the improvement of Mental Health in Lebanese prisons and a Suitable Legislation for Mentally ill Inmates and Inmates Sentenced to Life.
Tickets (20000LBP/ Students 15000 LBP) are on sale at Ticketing Box Office
For more info please contact Catharsis on 09-914932 or 03-162573