@inbook{0833ccc8d8cb469b8a13eeb00879efba,
title = "Pre-modern Drama",
abstract = "Traditional forms of popular drama continued to exist well after the growth of European dramatic activities in the Arab world and were to provide some inspiration to the emergent modern Arab theatre. The shadow player frequently used a stand, like the European marionette theatre, with a screen stretched across and illuminated from behind by an oil-lamp or candles. Karākūz was composed of short comic dialogues, dances and set-piece scenes, depicting centuries-old stories, historical events, legends and fictional tales. The Egyptians were often amused by players of low and ridiculous farces, called muhabbazūn, who presented a short comic scene, a primitive kind of commedia dell'arte. The Maghrib countries had their own traditional forms of drama, among which were the ḥalqa, bisā and fattāla. Masked performances were to be seen in Muḥarram and during other religious feasts. Popular bands of female dancers, ghawāzī, were a familiar entertainment in Egyptian villages.",
author = "Sadgrove, {P C.}",
year = "2006",
doi = "10.1017/CHOL9780521771603.020",
language = "English",
isbn = "9780521771603",
volume = "3",
series = "The Cambridge History of Arabic Literature",
publisher = "Cambridge University Press",
pages = "369--384",
editor = "Roger Allen and Richards, {D. S.}",
booktitle = "The Cambridge History of Arabic Literature",
address = "United Kingdom",
}