MEDIATHEK

Five years after the successful production ‘No Regrets’ about the live and songs of the little Edith (Piaf) de Kolonie MT creates –this time together with Moussem – again music theatre based on the live story of a great female singer. Umm Kulthum has a legendary voice and an eccentric iconic personality. Her songs remain immensely popular in the Arabic world. 'Umm' is an universal story with images, text, movement and music, based on a serie of poems of the poet Taha Adnan especially written for this production. Paul Verrept translated and arranged the poems in Dutch.

Thaïs Scholiers sings, plays and takes the kids into the world of the greatest diva. Bo Spaenc composes and plays live together with Osama Abdulrasol music on an arsenal of instruments from all corners of the world.

'Umm' • is a story with less words and much music. • is music theatre for kids and their parents with roots from all over the world. • is NOT a correct biography of Umm Kalthoum but rather a poetic evocation of her live. Her sun glasses, dresses, vocal timbre will suggest her. • Contains no songs of Umm Kalthoum but new compositions.


// Synopsis //

1.The birth of Umm Kalthoum at the country side.

2.Her father is imam and discovers the marvellous voice of his daughter. He sings regularly at marriages and ceremonies and disguises from her twelfth his daughter as a boy to have the possibility to take her with him.

3.Once grown up, she is invited to sing in the city.

4.Even King Farouk invites her in his palace.

5. Then she becomes more famous. She is the star of the Orient. She disappears after her concerts. She wears sun glasses. Her songs become longer. During a concert of three hours, she sings two or three songs. But everybody loves her. But nobody knows who she loves… The diva remains the «cantatrice of the people», giving her money to the poor.

6.Umm Kalthoum stays alive in the hearts of the people, till now. Even in the Arab Spring?