Kadiogo: TheStre Soleil closed this Saturday, at its headquarters in Ouagadougou, the 6th edition of the theatrical writing workshop called "Les poissons ne fermer pas les yeux" (Fish don't close their eyes) with the aim of equipping young people with theatrical writing.

According to Burkina Information Agency, TheStre Soleil has concluded its playwriting workshop, which brought together seven young people, including four boys and three girls, eager to learn more about the playwrighting profession. During four weeks of training, they benefited from artistic and educational support from specialists in the field.

The young people received coaching that enabled them to produce captivating texts that could even interest professional directors. The texts presented to the public reflect the country's current concerns, including terrorism, tradition, cultural identity, and access to civil status.

TheStre Soleil director Thierry Oueda said the "Fish Don't Close Their Eyes" writing workshop, aimed at young audiences, once again this year allowed students and those passionate about playwriting to strengthen their skills. "The idea is to encourage young people to write about their experiences, based on their reality. The writing was done without the use of technology. Artificial intelligence must remain a tool, not a shortcut," he said, emphasizing the importance of young people's effort and sincerity in the creative process.

According to him, several texts will be read during the Young Audience Festival, others will be staged, and a support program will be put in place to monitor new playwrights.

For the young participants in this writing workshop, it was a wonderful experience for those who had a penchant for the theater profession. They feel they were well equipped with theatrical writing techniques and this will be an asset in their careers as playwrights.

Actor, director and playwright Mahamadou Tendano, who attended the reading session of the texts from the playwriting workshop, felt that some of the texts were already sufficiently developed to interest directors. According to him, the most important thing is to work because success comes with work and perseverance.

These young people were rewarded with certificates for their participation in the workshop.