Majdi Bou-Matar

- 2022

• Name	Majdi Bou-Matar
  Gender	Male
  Interesting	art, theater
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-211734
  Died	Jun 2022	, Hungary
  Person ID	I211734	Generations
  Last Modified	19 Dec 2024

  
  

• Notes

  Majdi Bou-Matar, iconic theatre director, dies at 47 Bou-Matar was artistic director and founder of the MT Space and IMPACT Festival By Robert Williams Record Reporter WATERLOO - Majdi Bou-Matar had a particular way of seeing the world. Through his art, he showcased a vision that could cut between time, distance and culture to bring untold stories to the world. He was a celebrated performer and director, known locally as the artistic director and founder of the MT Space and IMPACT Festival. A fierce advocate for the unheard voice, Bou-Matar brought productions from South America, Africa and the Middle East to Waterloo Region, watching hours of play footage to decide what could enrich the local community. He spent his life as a champion for free expression, speaking truth to power, and turning dreams into reality. Bou-Matar died suddenly this week while touring a show through Hungary. He was 47. Growing up in Lebanon, Bou-Matar found his way to the stage when he was just a teenager. His wife, Rania Al-Hammoud, was his high school sweetheart, watching his passion for theatre grow from his first school production. She was by his side while he simultaneously completed two degrees at Lebanese University and Lebanese American University, and she was there while his love for performing, writing and directing blossomed before their eventual move to Toronto in 2003. Working at a Shopper's Drug Mart to get by in those early months, the couple eventually moved to Waterloo in January 2004. After his early attempts to make inroads in the Toronto theatre scene proved difficult, he set his sights on creating a space to highlight the voices that didn't have a place on the Canadian stage. By July, Bou-Matar had secured a grant to open the MT Space in Waterloo, building his network to bring a new artistic perspective to the region, one where everyone's voices could be heard. While his wife continued her engineering education at the University of Waterloo, he completed a master's degree in drama at the University of Guelph. He established the IMPACT Festival, a biennial theatre festival which showcased productions from around the world, while also giving local artists the opportunity to display their works. The festival created a template for how other communities across Canada could showcase the works of marginalized and racialized communities. At home, he was known as the "cool father" to Yazan, Zaman and Taym, always the preacher of patience and gentleness. He had a way of giving these hugs that would completely pull you in, said Al-Hammoud. To be near him was to be sucked into his world of possibility, she said, but it was never just about him. He was a strong proponent for female empowerment, supporting his wife through the rigours of engineering school, and moving their family to Minnesota for a year when she landed a placement in Duluth. But the pair knew that Waterloo had become home, and the family found its way back after Al-Hammoud landed a position back at the University of Waterloo. "He had this feeling that Kitchener-Waterloo was this big family, and if you had work you wanted to do, you had a right to show it," said Al-Hammoud. "He was interested in the collective, of bringing people together, and he wanted to create a place for everyone in this community." Through his work with writers, directors and actors from around the globe, he brought the world to Waterloo Region's doorstep. "Creating a show was like training together, and Majdi was like our coach," said Pam Patel, MT Space's current artistic director and longtime collaborator and mentee of Bou-Matar. "He had this way of creating spaces where you become more than colleagues or friends, you become a family." To be part of one of his productions was to be part of a group that would laugh together, cry together, argue, and then pick each other up at the airport, she said. "The reality is that without Majdi, and without MT Space and IMPACT, a lot of the arts organizations you see today just simply wouldn't exist," she said. "I don't think you would see this presence of racialized artists that we are seeing taking centre stage. It doesn't happen without Majdi." When Bou-Matar was ready to hand over the reins of MT Space to Patel, she asked him for some advice or wisdom he could pass along. His response outlined his philosophy for theatre, but also his philosophy for life. It paints the image of a man who spent his whole life working to bring the world just a little bit closer together. Keep your doors open. Literally do not close any doors. Do not ask people to call, buzz or knock before they come to see you. Tell them just to walk in. Remember that sometimes when theatre empowers one marginalized person, its impact on the community could be far greater than the impact of a passive show enjoyed by thousands. Rules and regulations are put in place to make people's lives better, fairer and more efficient. Don't hesitate to break those rules that don't. I heard an artist once say: "art for the sake of art is a waste of time and money." Always strive for social justice. The family will host a funeral service and will announce more details on Bou-Matar's Facebook page in the coming weeks. "He loved everyone around him, and if you ever needed a hug, he was the man to go to," said Al-Hammoud. "He was a man who felt deeply, who believed in communities, and had the ambition to try and make the most of this world and touch it with his own hands." "Majdi Bou-Matar, Iconic Theatre Director, Dies At 47". 2022. Therecord.Com. https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/2022/07/02/majdi-bou-matar-iconic-theatre-director-dies-at-47.html. ______________ Majdi Bou Matar died in exile Yesterday, Thursday, the Lebanese artistic community was shocked by the departure of Canadian-based Lebanese actor, director and playwright Magdi Bou Matara (pictured). Immediately after the news announcement, social media sites were filled with publications that began to mourn the deceased and the amount of his qualities and achievements, as well as remember the most famous moments of his life, including the famous artists such as: Faek Homaisi, Badi Abu Shakra, Carol Abboud and others. Canada, where Magdy moved with her family, has become a new creative starting point, which includes theaters, cultural spaces and several festivals around the world, where she presents a unique experience, especially in field of youth experimental theater. He was one of the founders of Arab-Canadian theater and has many works to his credit, notably Amal, The Last 15 Seconds and Al-Shaqf (along with the Tunisian Sirin Kanun). ). As a child, Magdi was influenced by Duraid Lahham and Nabih Abul-Hasan and during her studies she was influenced by Roger Assaf and followed her career with self-sacrifice and passion. His name is associated with various productions from comedy, tragedy and legend. She holds an MA in Drama from the University of Guelph in Ontario, where her research focuses on Canadian multicultural theater. Magdy founded MT Space in Waterloo, Ontario and in 2009 founded the International Theater Festival (IMPACT) which takes place every two years. Source: Al-Akhbar "Majdi Bou Matar Died In Exile - News Cutter". 2022. News Cutter. https://newscutters.com/culture/272514.html.

  
  

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  Died - Jun 2022 - , Hungary  = Link to Google Earth