Scenographic depiction of anti-colonial cultural memory in Arab folk epics: a case study of Naa’sah performance

This study investigates the scenographic treatment of the theatrical performance Naa’sah (2020) within the framework of Egyptian Mass Culture Theatre, exploring its representation of Arab-Islamic identity, resistance to political and cultural hegemony, and anti-colonial cultural memory across the broader Arab world. Inspired by the popular Arabian folk epic Ayoub and Naa’sah, the play is set in a coastal Bedouin community and portrays the struggle to preserve land, identity, and heritage in the face of external interference. Naa’sah metaphorically addresses the continuing cultural effects of colonial and neo-colonial domination, symbolizing the Arab folk hero’s defiance against cultural erasure, political domination, and the erosion of collective memory.This research emphasizes the power of scenography to visually articulate anticolonial themes of resistance, betrayal, and cultural survival. Through descriptive and applied case study approaches, the author designed sets and costumes that highlight the conflict between the oppressed landowner and an unscrupulous, subversive outsider. Drawing on Arab and Islamic symbols and visual motifs, the scenographic design reinforces the Arab world’s broader anti-colonial narrative, postcolonial struggles, and the region’s cultural integrity. The study underscores the role of performance as a medium for raising awareness, promoting resilience, and empowering the collective memory of resistance in Arab societies. The study concludes that scenography can operate as a powerful vehicle for cultural resistance, allowing performance to preserve identity, reclaim space, and articulate local visual knowledge as a form of cultural survival.