Tunis remembers its theatrical and spiritual past
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A group of friends in Tunis visited the Théâtre municipal, the Marché central, and the zaouia of Sidi Mahrez, recalling cultural and personal memories.
The friends began at the Théâtre municipal, where they saw a poster documenting a performance by the Berliner Ensemble and discussed the influence of Bertolt Brecht on Tunisian theatre in the 1970s, particularly noting adaptations by Moncef Souissi and Ezzeddine Madani.
They then moved to the Marché central, observing the seasonal produce like early annab (jujubes) and fresh seafood. The group continued to Bab Bhar and Dar El Monastiri before arriving at the zaouia of Sidi Mahrez, a religious sanctuary. There, they participated in the tradition of ziara, paying respects at the cenotaph. An elderly woman shared memories of previous generations, suggesting that encounters in such places are not accidental.
Before leaving Sidi Mahrez, the friends received nougat from a local confectioner, which evoked childhood memories of smat, blessed offerings given to children visiting mausoleums, and a first experience with spirituality.
